Economic Opportunity, Health Behaviors, and Mortality in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We assessed whether economic opportunity was independently associated with health behaviors and outcomes in the United States.

Methods

Using newly available, cross-sectional, county-level data from the Equality of Opportunity Project Database and vital statistics, we estimated associations between all-cause mortality rates (averaged over 2000-2012) and economic opportunity, adjusting for socioeconomic, demographic, and health system covariates. Our measure of economic opportunity was the county-average rank in the national income distribution attained by individuals born to families in the bottom income quartile. Secondary outcomes included rates of age- and race-specific mortality, smoking, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

Results

An increase in econom

SUBMITTER: Venkataramani AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4758869 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature