Socioeconomic Inequality in Respiratory Health in the US From 1959 to 2018.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Air quality has improved and smoking rates have declined over the past half-century in the US. It is unknown whether such secular improvements, and other policies, have helped close socioeconomic gaps in respiratory health.

Objective

To describe long-term trends in socioeconomic disparities in respiratory disease prevalence, pulmonary symptoms, and pulmonary function.

Design, setting, and participants

This repeated cross-sectional analysis of the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and predecessor surveys, conducted from 1959 to 2018. included 160 495 participants aged 6 to 74 years.

Exposures

Family income quintile defined using year-specific thresholds; educational attainment.

Main outcomes and me

SUBMITTER: Gaffney AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8261605 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature