All-cause and cause-specific mortality by socioeconomic status among employed persons in 27 US states, 1984-1997.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated mortality differences according to socioeconomic status (SES) for employed persons in 27 states during 1984-1997.


METHODS
SES was determined for persons aged 35-64 years according to the "usual occupation" listed on their death certificates. We used US Census denominator data.


RESULTS
For all-cause mortality, rate ratios from lowest to highest SES quartile for men and women were 2.02, 1.69, 1.25, and 1.00 and 1.29, 1.01, 1.07, and 1.00, respectively. Percentage of all deaths attributable to being in the lowest 3 SES quartiles was 27%. Inverse SES gradients were strong for most major causes of death except breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Heart disease mortality for highest and lowest SES quartiles dropped 45% and 25%, respectively, between 1984 and 1997.


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality differences by SES were sustained through the 1990s and are increasing for men.
Steenland
Kyle
K
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. nsteenl@sph.emory.edu
Hu
Sherry
S
Walker
James
J
D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D004194:Disease / Q000145:classification; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States; D014798:Vital Statistics