Inequalities in health at older ages: a longitudinal investigation of the onset of illness and survival effects in England.

ABSTRACT:

Background

previous studies have suggested a decline in the relationship between socioeconomic circumstances and health or functioning in later life, but this may be due to survival effects.

Objective

to examine whether wealth gradients in the incidence of illness decline with age, and, if so, whether this decline is explained by differential mortality.

Methods

the study included participants in the first two waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a large national longitudinal study of the population aged 50+ in England, who reported good health, no functional impairment, or no heart disease at baseline. Wealth inequalities in onset of illness over 2 years were examined across age groups, with and without the inclusion of mortality. Outcome measures

SUBMITTER: McMunn A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2724887 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature