Early-life socioeconomic circumstances explain health differences in old age, but not their evolution over time. Issue 8 (9th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheval, Boris; Orsholits, Dan; Sieber, Stefan; Stringhini, Silvia; Courvoisier, Delphine; Kliegel, Matthias; Boisgontier, Matthieu P; Cullati, Stephane
• Is Part Of: Journal of epidemiology and community health. Volume 73:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 703
• Page End: 711
• Publication Date: 2019-04-09
• Subjects: health status -- ageing trajectories -- healthy ageing -- early life -- socioeconomic factors; Public health -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1136/jech-2019-212110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-005X

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Early-life socioeconomic circumstances (SEC) are associated with health in old age. However, epidemiological evidences on the influence of these early-life risk factors on trajectories of healthy ageing are inconsistent, preventing drawing solid conclusion about their potential influence. Here, to fill this knowledge gap, we used a statistical approach adapted to estimating change over time and an outcome-wide epidemiology approach to investigate whether early-life SEC were associated with the level of and rate of decline of physical, cognitive and emotional functioning over time. Methods: We used data on more than 23 000 adults in older age from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, a 12-year large-scale longitudinal study with repeated measurements of multiple health indicators of the same participants over time (2004 –2015, assessments every 2 years). Confounder-adjusted linear growth curve models were used to examine the associations of early-life SEC with the evolution of muscle strength, lung function, cognitive function, depressive symptoms and well-being over time. Results: We consistently found an association between early-life SEC and the mean levels of all health indicators at age 63.5, with a critical role played by the cultural aspect of disadvantage. These associations were only partly explained by adult-life SEC factors. By contrast, evidences supporting an association between early-life SEC and the rate of change in health indicators were weak and inconsistent. Conclusions: Early-life SEC are associated with health in old age, but not with trajectories of healthy ageing. Conceptual models in life course research should consider the possibility of a limited influence of early-life SEC on healthy ageing trajectories.