title: On age-specific variations in income-related inequalities in diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article examines whether the social health gradients in diabetes, hypertension and obesity for men and women vary significantly across different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use a pooled sample of German survey data from the years 2002 and 2006 with a total of 87,601 observations. We employ a varying Wagstaff index derived from the class of Gini-type concentration indices to estimate age-specific income-related health inequalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We find significant health disadvantages among poor women in mid-age, but no significant age-specific income-related health inequalities among men. Some leveling of inequalities in diabetes is observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that variations in age-specific inequalities are unlikely to be a purely artificial result of health-related selection into retirement or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. martin.siegel@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luengen
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult