Are childhood socio-economic circumstances related to coronary heart disease risk?
Background The independent influence of childhood social circumstances on health in later life remains uncertain. We examined the extent to which childhood socioeconomic circumstances are related to the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in older British men, taking account of adult social class and behavioural risk factors.Methods A socio-economically representative sample of 5552 British men (52-74 years) with retrospective assessment of childhood socio-economic circumstances (father’s occupation and childhood household amenities) who were followed up for CHD (fatal and non-fatal) for 12 years.Results Men whose childhood social class was manual had an increased hazard ratio (HR) 1.34 (95% CI 1.11-1.63)-this effect was diminished when adjusted for adult social class and adult behavioural risk factors (cigarette smoking, alcohol, physical activity and body weight) (HR 1.19; 95% CI 0.97-1.46). Men whose family did not own a car in their childhood were at increased CHD risk even after
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