Is the disease risk associated with good self-reported health constant across the socio-economic spectrum?
BACKGROUND
Self-reported health is likely to be dependent on two key assessments: that of one's own health and that of the best health that could be expected. As many health outcomes are known to vary according to socio-economic position (SEP), it is possible that assessments of the best health that could be expected will vary with SEP. It is, therefore, possible that the disease risk associated with different levels of self-reported health varies according to SEP. We investigated this using data from the 1998 Health Survey for England.


METHODS
Disease risk was measured as systolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI), and SEP was measured as occupational social class. Associations between social class and the markers of disease risk were investigated in those reporting different levels of self-reported health using linear regression in order to control for age.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant socio-economic variations in systolic blood pressure and BMI (in women only) in those who reported their health as good or very good. No such socio-economic variations in disease risk were seen amongst those reporting their health as less than good.


CONCLUSIONS
The meaning of self-reported health, in terms of disease risk, may not be comparable across the socio-economic spectrum.
Adams
J
J
Public Health Research Group, School of Population and Health Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Level 3, DMB, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. j.m.adams@ncl.ac.uk
White
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors