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Social Class and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Danish Men

Lars Møller, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, The Glostrup population Studies, Medical Department C, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, N. Ringvej 57, DK-2600, Address for offprints: Dr Lars Möller Inst of Social Medicine The Panum Institute Blegdamsvej 3 DK-2200 Copenhagen Denmark

Tage S. Kristensen

Institute of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N

Hanne Hollnagel

The Glostrup population Studies, Medical Department C, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, N. Ringvej 57, DK-2600 Glostrup and, Institute of General Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Mariesvej 18, DK-2100 Copenhagen ø, Denmark

During the last 25 years, a series of epidemiological studies in North-Western Europe and U.S.A. have demonstrated a negative association between social class and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), that is, an increasing incidence the lower the social class. In studies where possible explanations of this negative gradient have been analyzed, it was concluded that the traditional individual risk factors, such as elevated blood pressure, high serum cholesterol, and smoking, could explain about one half of the differences demonstrated. In a prospective study of a cohort of 504 men from the County of Copenhagen, the participants were examined when 40 and 51 years old. At both examinations the social class of the participants was recorded in addition to a number of cardiovascular risk factors. The latter included both the traditional risk factors and some not previously analyzed in relation to social class. At the 51-year examination we found statistically significant negative associations between social class and the following risk factors: plasma fibrinogen (p < 0.001), short height (p < 0.001), smoking (p < 0.05), physical inactivity in leisure time (p < 0.01), shift work (p < 0.05), job strain (p < 0.05), living alone (p < 0.01), and having a poor social network (p < 0.05). Two factors showed a significant opposite association with social class: Type A behaviour (p < 0.001) and physical inactivity at work (p < 0.001).

In the last 10-15 years, a tendency has been demonstrated in many countries towards a strengthened association between social class and cardiovascular risk factors. This tendency was not found in our cohort. It has been discussed whether some of the social inequalities observed could be due to selection, so that people with a favourable cardiovascular risk profile socially were upward mobile. We found no support for such a selection hypothesis in our study.

Key Words: Social class • prospective study • cardiovascular risk factors • Danish men • social inequality.

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 19, No. 2, 116-126 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/140349489101900207


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