METHODS: Data from the population-based German Aging Survey were used (N = 4472), with participants being 40 + years old. Lung function was assessed by the peak flow test. Education, income, and occupational prestige were used as socioeconomic indicators.
RESULTS: We found that overall limited lung function was highly prevalent across the whole sample, with about 33% (Women: 35%; Men: 30%) having overall limited lung function and 8% (Women: 7%; Men: 8%) having severely limited lung function. Socioeconomic differences in limited lung function emerged for all three indicators, education, income, and occupational prestige, in both men and women in single effect analyses. These differences persisted for occupational prestige and income when controlling for all indicators simultaneously.
CONCLUSIONS: Thus, overall and severely limited lung function are highly prevalent health conditions. Men and women with a low occupational position and those with low income are the most affected. Socioeconomic indicators cannot be used interchangeably when studying health inequalities in lung functioning. Occupational hazards and physical working conditions are likely to constitute major risks of health inequalities in limited lung functioning and should be investigated as such by future studies.
方法:使用基于人口的德国老龄化调查的数据(N=4472),参与者年龄在40岁以上。通过峰值流量测试评估肺功能。教育,收入,职业声望被用作社会经济指标。
结果:我们发现,在整个样本中,总体有限的肺功能非常普遍,其中约33%(女性:35%;男性:30%)具有总体有限的肺功能,8%(女性:7%;男性:8%)具有严重有限的肺功能。所有三个指标都出现了有限肺功能的社会经济差异,教育,收入,和职业声望,在男性和女性的单效分析中。当同时控制所有指标时,这些差异仍然存在于职业声望和收入中。
结论:因此,总体和严重受限的肺功能是非常普遍的健康状况。职业地位低和收入低的男女受影响最大。在研究肺功能的健康不平等时,社会经济指标不能互换使用。职业危害和身体工作条件可能构成肺功能有限的健康不平等的主要风险,应通过未来的研究进行调查。