Coronary heart disease from a life-course approach: findings from the health and retirement study, 1998-2004.
OBJECTIVE
Guided by a life-course approach to chronic disease, this study examined the ways in which childhood deprivation (low parental education and father's manual occupation) may be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
Multilevel modeling techniques and a nationally representative sample of Americans above age 50 from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 18,465) were used to examine childhood and CHD relationships over the course of 6 years (1998-2004).


RESULTS
Having a father with </=8 years of education was associated with 11% higher odds of CHD, accounting for demographic characteristics, adult socioeconomic status (SES; education, income, and wealth), CHD risks (diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and obesity), and other factors (childhood health, exercise, stroke, and marital status).


CONCLUSIONS
Policies and programs aimed at improving the conditions of poor children and their families may effectively reduce the prevalence of CHD in later life.
Bowen
Mary Elizabeth
ME
HSR&D/RR&D Research Center of Excellence, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, 8900 Grand Oak Circle, Tampa, FL 33637-1022, USA. Mary.Bowen3@va.gov
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology