Socioeconomic Differences in Life Expectancy

• Activity Number: 152
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 3, 2009 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Government Statistics
• Author(s): Kimberly Lochner*+ and Van L. Parsons and Nathaniel Schenker and Gloria Wheatcroft and Elsie R. Pamuk
• Companies: National Center for Health Statistics and National Center for Health Statistics and National Center for Health Statistics and National Center for Health Statistics and National Center for Health Statistics
• Keywords: Disparities ; Life expectancy ; National Health Interview Survey ; Record linkage

Abstract

Reducing socioeconomic (SES) disparities in health continues to be an important health policy issue. Although recent reports have shown differences in life expectancy by SES, several were based on ecologic data or had examined only one SES indicator. Using nationally representative longitudinal data made available through the linkage of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) respondents to their death records, this study examines life expectancy at ages 25, 45, and 65 by sex and race/ethnic groups for both education and income. Examination of the specific causes of death and health factors, such as smoking, contributing to observed differences in life expectancy by SES as well as time trends will be explored. The NHIS linked mortality files, with SES and health information, provide a unique data source for examinations of the causes and implications of disparities in life expectancy.