G. David Batty|Geoff Der|Sally MacIntyre|Ian J. Deary
Does IQ explain socioeconomic inequalities in health? Evidence from a population based cohort study in the west of Scotland
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit|University of Glasgow|MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit|University of Glasgow|MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit|University of Glasgow|University of Edinburgh
h3abstracth3 bobjectiveb test hypothesis iq fundamental cause socioeconomic inequalities health bdesignb cross sectional prospective cohort study indicators iq assessed written test socioeconomic position self report bsettingb west scotland bparticipantsb 1347 people 739 women aged 56 1987 bmain outcome measuresb total mortality coronary heart disease mortality ascertained 1987 2004 respiratory function self reported minor psychiatric morbidity long term illness self perceived health assessed 1988 bresultsb sex adjusted analyses indices socioeconomic position childhood current social class education income area deprivation significantly associated health outcome thus greatest risk ill health mortality evident socioeconomically disadvantaged groups expected adjustment iq marked attenuation risk occurred poor mental health range attenuation risk ratio across five socioeconomic indicators 1558 long term illness 2553 poor self perceived health 4156 respiratory function 4466 coronary heart disease mortality 31111 total mortality 45131 despite clear reduction magnitude effects controlling iq half associations examined risk ill health socioeconomically disadvantaged people still least twice advantaged people statistical significance lost 525 separate socioeconomic health gradients showed significant relations sex adjusted analyses bconclusionsb scores iq test used completely explain socioeconomic gradients health however controlling iq lead marked reduction magnitude gradients exploration currently scant information iq socioeconomic position health needed