Table 1.

Table Health outcomes at age 26 years according to childhood socioeconomic position and adult socioeconomic position

	Socioeconomic group			Statistical test of effect of socioeconomic status^*
	Low	Medium	High	Low vs high socioeconomic status	p	Medium vs high status socio- economic status	p

Adult physical health^†
Body-mass index (kg/m²)
Childhood socioeconomic status	26·1 (5·3)	24·9 (4·2)	24·4 (3·9)	1·95 (0·49)	<0·0001	0·55 (0·39)	0·16
Adult socioeconomic status	25·3 (4·8)	24·9 (4·0)	24·8 (4·1)	0·01 (0·43)	0·98	–0·12 (0·38)	0·75
Waist:hip ratio
Childhood socioeconomic status	81·1 (7·0)	79·9 (6·8)	79·3 (6·9)	1·57 (0·51)	0·002	0·35 (0·41)	0·39
Adult socioeconomic status	81·8 (6·7)	79·5 (6·9)	79·3 (6·8)	0·55 (0·45)	0·22	–0·16 (0·39)	0·69
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
Childhood socioeconomic status	117·0 (11·6)	117·4 (11·2)	114·6 (9·9)	2·58 (1·15)	0·02	2·73 (0·91)	0·003
Adult socioeconomic status	117·6 (11·2)	117·2 (11·1)	116·5 (11·0)	–0·98 (1·02)	0·33	0·09 (·88)	0·92
Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max/kg)
Childhood socioeconomic status	41·6 (11·5)	44·7 (10·8)	45·2 (10·6)	–2·61 (1·29)	0·04	–0·68 (1·00)	0·50
Adult socioeconomic status	43·9 (11·0)	44·2 (10·9)	46·1 (10·6)	–2·54 (1·14)	0·03	–1·89 (0·98)	0·05

Adult dental health
Tooth cleanliness (plaque score)^†
Childhood socioeconomic status	0·98 (0·59)	0·86 (0·53)	0·77 (0·46)	0·14 (0·06)	0·02	0·06 (0·05)	0·25
Adult socioeconomic status	1·03 (0·58)	0·83 (0·51)	0·71 (0·48)	0·26 (0·05)	<0·0001	0·10 (0·05)	0·02
Proportion of teeth with gingival bleeding^†
Childhood socioeconomic status	37·7% (29·1)	28·9% (24·4)	23·7% (23·2)	10·76 (2·90)	0·0002	4·14 (2·30)	0·07
Adult socioeconomic status	35·7% (27·1)	27·9% (24·6)	24·0% (22·0)	9·39 (2·54)	0·0002	2·74 (2·20)	0·21
Proportion with periodontal disease^‡
Childhood socioeconomic status	31·1%	16·6%	11·9%	2·88 (1·53–5·39)	0·001	1·39 (0·80–2·44)	0·25
Adult socioeconomic status	22·3%	17·7%	11·9%	1·57 (0·88–2·78)	0·13	1·41 (0·84–2·39)	0·19
Proportion with ≥4 surfaces affected by dental caries^‡
Childhood socioeconomic status	32·2%	19·4%	9·9%	3·18 (1·66–6·10)	0·0005	1·84 (1·03–3·30)	0·04
Adult socioeconomic status	26·9%	18·9%	10·2%	2·46 (1·37–4·40)	0·003	1·84 (1·06–3·18)	0·03

Adult mental health and substance abuse^‡
Proportion with depression
Childhood socioeconomic status	16·5%	16·8%	17·8%	0·63 (0·34–1·14)	0·13	0·80 (0·50–1·29)	0·36
Adult socioeconomic status	22·3%	15·0%	13·1%	2·30 (1·34–3·96)	0·003	1·25 (0·76–2·06)	0·39
Proportion with alcohol dependence
Childhood socioeconomic status	21·5%	17·3%	12·1%	1·80 (0·97–3·34)	0·06	1·37 (0·80–2·35)	0·25
Adult socioeconomic status	21·1%	18·3%	11·5%	1·62 (0·92–2·85)	0·10	1·61 (0·96–2·71)	0·07
Proportion with tobacco dependence
Childhood socioeconomic status	16·2%	13·7%	9·6%	1·12 (0·56–2·25)	0·76	1·12 (0·62–2·04)	0·70
Adult socioeconomic status	21·1%	11·4%	6·0%	3·81 (1·89–7·65)	0·0002	1·98 (1·01–3·89)	0·05

Regression coefficients represent effects of unit changes in socioeconomic status on health outcomes, adjusting for other covariates in model. For example, relative to those from high socioeconomic status backgrounds, those from low socioeconomic status backgrounds have increased body-mass index of 1·95. Odds ratios are adjusted for other covariates in model. Childhood socioeconomic status is adjusted for sex, infant health, and adult socioeconomic status; adult socioeconomic status is adjusted for sex, infant health, and childhood socioeconomic status, n=931.

Unstandardised regression coefficients (SE) or odds ratios (95% CI).

^†

Unadjusted means (SD).

^‡

Unadjusted percentages.