Education was associated with injuries requiring hospital admission.
OBJECTIVE
We describe educational inequalities in the incidence of injuries resulting in hospital admission and explore the contribution of exposure variables and chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, and sedative use to the observed inequalities.


METHODS
Data from the Dutch prospective GLOBE study were linked to the National Hospital Discharge Register after 7 years of follow-up.


RESULTS
Significantly higher hazard ratios (HRs) of traffic injuries in lower compared with higher educational groups were substantially reduced after adjustment for differences in the use of cars and mopeds between these groups. Significantly increased HRs in occupational, home, and sports (OHS) injuries in lower compared with higher educational groups were reduced after adjustment for higher prevalence rates of chronic diseases, very excessive alcohol consumption, and sedative use in lower educational groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure variables, chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, and sedative use contribute to educational inequalities in traffic and OHS injuries resulting in hospital admission.
van Lenthe
Frank J
FJ
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. f.vanlenthe@erasmusmc.nl
van Beeck
Ed F
EF
Gevers
Evelien
E
Mackenbach
Johan P
JP
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004522:Educational Status; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008875:Middle Aged; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives