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Table 3 Summary of SES – CVD life course studies using an early SES → risk factor design

From: Evaluating the evidence for models of life course socioeconomic factors and cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review

1st Author, year & reference number

Study name

Early life and/or adult SES measures

Variables adjusted for other than age

CVD risk factor(s) measured

Arnesen 1985 [65]

Tromso Heart Study

Early-life: 4-level index of household economic conditions

CVD RF's

Cholesterol, SBP, glucose, BMI, smoking, more

Notkola 1985 [40]

East-West Study

Early-life: 5-level index using father's occup & farm size; Adult: occup (6 groups)

None

Smoking, cholesterol, SBP

Wadsworth 1985 [98]

Medical Research Council

National Survey of Health Study

Early-life: index of father's occup & parents' edu; Adult: occup (RG) & employment

CVD RF's

SBP, DBP

Braddon 1986 [71]

British 1946 Birth Cohort

Early-life: 2 social class indices of father's occup; Adult: occup (RG, 8 groups), edu (high/low)

Adult SES, CVD RF's

Obesity (BMI > 30.0 for men, > 29.1 for women)

Peck 1994 [66]

Swedish census cohort study

Early-life: father's occup (7 groups); Adult: occup (7 groups)

None

Smoking, physical activity

Blane 1996 [64]

Collaborative Study

Early-life: father's occup (RG, 4 groups); Adult: occup (RG, 4 groups)

Adult SES

DBP, physical activity, smoking, BMI, FEV1, more

Lynch 1997 [99]

Kuopio Study

Child: SES index (3 groups); Adolescent: edu (3 groups); Adult: occup, income, possessions, more

Energy intake

Smoking, drinking, obesity, physical activity, diet

Power 1997a [14]

1958 British Birth Cohort

Child: father's occup (RG, 4 groups); At 23 years: occup, edu; At 33 years: occup

None

BMI (obesity)

Power 1997b [90]

1958 British Birth Cohort

Child: father's occup (RG, 4 groups); At 23 years: occup, edu; At 33 years: occup

None

Smoking, BMI (obesity)

Davey Smith 1998 [44]

Collaborative Study

Early-life: father's occup (4 groups); Adult: occup (6 groups)

None

Smoking, DBP, cholesterol, BMI, FEV1

van de Mheen 1998 [63]

Longitudinal Study, Netherlands

Early-life: father's occup (6 groups); Adult: occup (6 groups)

Adult SES

BMI, smoking, alcohol, leisure physical activity

Brunner 1999 [67]

Whitehall II Study

Early-life: father's occup (RG, 4 groups); Adult: occup (Civil Service grade, 4 groups)

Adult SES

Smoking, activity, HDL, BMI, fibrinogen, more

Davey Smith 2002 [52]

Collaborative Study

Early-life: father's occup (mnl/non-mnl); Adult: occup (mnl/non-mnl)

None

Smoking, alcohol, area deprivation

Lawlor 2002 [68]

British Women's Heart Study

Early-life: father's occup (RG, 6 groups); Adult: current occup (RG, 6 groups)

Adult SES

Insulin resistance, SBP, cholesterol, BMI, smoking, triglycerides, alcohol, more

Poulton 2002 [73]

Dunedin Multidisciplinary Study

Early-life: parental occup (6 groups) at 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 & 15 years; Adult: current occup (3 groups)

Adult SES

BMI, WHR, SBP, smoking, alcohol, more

Lawlor 2003 [69]

British Women's Heart Study

Early-life: father's longest occup (mnl / non-mnl); Adult: longest occup (RG, 6 groups)

CVD RF's

HOMA, SBP, HDL, triglycerides

Parker 2003 [70]

Newcastle 1000 Families Study

Birth: father's occup & housing; 5 & 10 years: same, plus adverse life events; Adult: wage earner's occup

None

CMS, BMI, WHR, fasting insulin, triglycerides, HDL

  1. BMI = Body mass index; CMS = Central metabolic syndrome; DBP = Diastolic blood pressure; Edu = Education; FEV1 = Forced expiratory volume in 1 second; HOMA = Homeostasis model assessment score; Mnl = Manual occupational class; Non-mnl = Non-manual occupational class; Occup = Occupation; RF = Risk factor; RG = Registrar General's social class categories; SBP = Systolic blood pressure; WHR = Waist-to-hip ratio.