title: Low socioeconomic status is associated with chronic obstructive airway diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worldwide, asthma and COPD are common causes of disability or death. Few studies have been made concerning the association with socioeconomic status (SES) and these diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this nationwide population-based study was to determine the association with educational and income levels (SES) and chronic airway diseases (CAD), i.e., asthma or COPD (FEV1/FVC < 0.70). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate odds ratios in relation to education and household income, using age, gender, smoking in lifetime and body mass index as possible confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this population-based cohort aged ≥30 years the prevalence of asthma was 9% (588/6525). COPD was observed in 5% (338/6525) of research subjects. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis when adjusted for gender, age, smoking history and BMI, the basic educational level remained an independent risk factor for COPD (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.6) and the low household income for asthma (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-1.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this large survey low SES measured by educational and income levels are risk factors of asthma and COPD.
authors: University of Tampere, Department of Nursing Science, Niittytie 1, FI-33470 Ylöjärvi, Finland. mkanervisto@hotmail.com
authors: Merja
authors: M
authors: Kanervisto
authors: Tuula
authors: T
authors: Vasankari
authors: Tarja
authors: T
authors: Laitinen
authors: Markku
authors: M
authors: Heliövaara
authors: Pekka
authors: P
authors: Jousilahti
authors: Seppo
authors: S
authors: Saarelainen
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013147:Spirometry