title: Variation in health inequalities according to measures of socioeconomic status and age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine variation in the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in health and age-related variations in inequalities, according to the socioeconomic status (SES) measure used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study involving 205,709 participants in the 45 and Up Study. We used the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) to quantify health inequalities in relation to income, education and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). The outcomes used were heart disease and self-rated health. Analyses were stratified by age (45-64, 65-79, ≥80 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RIIs were largest for income and smallest for SEIFA; they were generally largest in the youngest age group and smallest in the oldest group. Age-related differences in RIIs were particularly marked for income (e.g. for fair/poor health, RII=11.81, 95%CI 11.14-12.53 in the 45-64 age group and RII=2.42, 95%CI 2.10-2.78 in ≥80 group), and less marked for SEIFA (e.g. respectively, RII=2.68, 95%CI 2.53-2.84 and RII=1.32, 95%CI 1.22-1.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The magnitude of socioeconomic inequality in health varies substantially according to the type of SES measure used and age. Income is the most sensitive measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Researchers and policy makers should be aware of the extent to which SEIFA-based estimates underestimate the magnitude of health inequality compared to individual-level measures, especially in younger age groups.
authors: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory.
authors: Tanya
authors: T
authors: Mather
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Banks
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Joshy
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Bauman
authors: Philayrath
authors: P
authors: Phongsavan
authors: Rosemary J
authors: RJ
authors: Korda
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: SEIFA; health inequalities; socioeconomic status