Abstract P036: Socioeconomic Status and Risk of Diabetes over 35 Years
Background and aim: The link between low socioeconomic status (SES) and CHD is well established but whether low SES is also an independent predictor for development of diabetes type 2 is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SES, measured as occupational class, predicted subsequent development of diabetes type 2 over an extended follow-up. Methods: A total of 6941 men 47-55 years old, without prior diabetes, from a population sample of 9998 men, were investigated during 1970-73. Of the men, 23.7% were unskilled workers, 27.2% were skilled workers, 19.7% occupied either a supervisory manual position or were lower officials, 17.9% were officials at an intermediate position, and 11.6% were professionals, executives or senior officials. Follow-up was achieved through the national Swedish patient registry. Results: A total of 900 men (13%) were registered at any time with a diagnosis of diabetes over a 35-year follow-up. Compared with men in the highest occupational class, men with intermediate non-manual occupations had a multiple-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-1.44, lower officials and foremen had an HR of 1.37 (1.06-1.78), semiskilled and skilled workers 1.39 (1.08-1.78), and unskilled workers 1.66 (1.30-2.13) after adjustment for smoking at baseline, BMI, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, treatment for hypertension and leisure time physical activity. Conclusions: Low SES is an independent risk factor for long-term risk of diabetes in men, with a 66% independent higher risk in unskilled workers, compared to professionals/senior officials.