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. 2010 May-Jun;125(3):377-88.
doi: 10.1177/003335491012500306.

Socioeconomic status and risk of diabetes-related mortality in the U.S

Sharon Saydah  1 , Kimberly Lochner
Affiliations

Socioeconomic status and risk of diabetes-related mortality in the U.S

Sharon Saydah et al. Public Health Rep. 2010 May-Jun.

Abstract

Objective: We examined disparities in diabetes-related mortality for socioeconomic status (SES) groups in nationally representative U.S. samples.

Methods: We analyzed National Health Interview Survey respondents linked to their death records and included those eligible for mortality follow-up who were aged 25 years and older at the time of interview and not missing information on covariates (n=527,426). We measured SES by education and family income. There were 5,613 diabetes-related deaths.

Results: Having less than a high school education was associated with a twofold higher mortality from diabetes, after controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, and body mass index, compared with adults with a college degree or higher education level (relative hazard [RH] = 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78, 2.35). Having a family income below poverty level was associated with a twofold higher mortality after adjustments compared with adults with the highest family incomes (RH=2.41, 95% CI 2.05, 2.84). Approximately one-quarter of the excess risk among those in the lowest SES categories was explained by adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusion: Findings from this nationally representative cohort demonstrate a socioeconomic gradient in diabetes-related mortality, with both education and income being important determinants of the risk of death.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Diabetes-related mortality by education level among adults aged 25 years and older in the National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality Filesa
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Diabetes-related mortality by income level among adults aged 25 years and older in the National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality Filesa
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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