Samantha Bennett
Cardiovascular risk factors in Australia: trends in socioeconomic inequalities.
Australian National University
study objectiveto examine trends socioeconomic inequalities cardiovascular risk factors using educational attainment indicate socioeconomic status designbehavioural data physical measurements blood pressure lipid determination collected three successive multicentre cross sectional community surveys conducted 1980 1983 1989 settingthe six state capital cities australia sydney melbourne brisbane adelaide perth hobart participantsa total 19315 randomly selected respondents stratified age 2544 4564 sex resultsduring 1980s average blood pressure declined level educational attainment dietary messages reduce intake saturated fat little effect lipid profile population group height educational attainment positively associated women increased weight 2 4 kg depending age educational attainment older men experienced increases around 25 kg regardless educational attainment advice avoid salt adopted across spectrum educational attainment suggestion socioeconomic gradient favoured highly educated diminishing men education levels responded positively antismoking initiatives 1980s relative disadvantage lower education maintained among women decline smoking less among low education group prevalence moderate heavy drinkers higher men lower educational attainment declined significantly period walking recreation exercise became popular especially among older men low education prevalence aerobic exercise vigorous exercise remained largely unchanged overall clear socioeconomic gradient leisure time physical activity education attainment remained conclusionsthe lower socioeconomic group improved risk factor profile relative disadvantage compared higher socioeconomic group persists health promotion activities australia seem effective reaching lower socioeconomic groups challenge reduce inequalities remains steady increase educational attainment australia may important factor general improvement nation9s risk factor profile decrease mortality coronary heart disease