Gender differences in asthma prevalence: Variations with socioeconomic disadvantage

  1. Catherine R. CHITTLEBOROUGH1,*,
  2. Anne W. TAYLOR1,
  3. Eleonora DAL GRANDE1,
  4. Tiffany K. GILL1,
  5. Janet F. GRANT1,
  6. Robert J. ADAMS2,
  7. David H. WILSON2,
  8. Richard E. RUFFIN2,
  9. On Behalf of The North West Adelaide Health Study Team1

Article first published online: 22 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2009.01638.x

Issue

Respirology

Respirology

Volume 15, Issue 1, pages 107–114, January 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

CHITTLEBOROUGH, C. R., TAYLOR, A. W., DAL GRANDE, E., GILL, T. K., GRANT, J. F., ADAMS, R. J., WILSON, D. H., RUFFIN, R. E. and On Behalf of The North West Adelaide Health Study Team (2010), Gender differences in asthma prevalence: Variations with socioeconomic disadvantage. Respirology, 15: 107–114. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2009.01638.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, South Australian Department of Health, and

  2. 2

    Health Observatory, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

*Catherine R. Chittleborough, Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, SA Health, PO Box 287, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Email: catherine.chittleborough@adelaide.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 22 OCT 2009
  3. Received 5 April 2009; invited to revise 28 May 2009; revised 5 July 2009; accepted 20 July 2009 (Associate Editor: Peter Black).

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Keywords:

  • asthma;
  • epidemiology;
  • gender;
  • health survey;
  • socioeconomic factor

This study examined gender differences in the association between asthma and socioeconomic disadvantage using a representative population cohort. Asthma was associated with socioeconomic disadvantage but in socioeconomically advantaged groups, asthma prevalence was higher among women than men.

ABSTRACT

Background and objective:  Socioeconomic inequalities in health have been shown to vary for different diseases and by gender. This study aimed to examine gender differences in associations between asthma and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Methods:  Socioeconomic variables were assessed among men and women in the North West Adelaide Health Study, a representative population cohort (n = 4060) aged 18 years and over in metropolitan South Australia. Asthma was determined from spirometry and self-reported doctor diagnosis.

Results:  The prevalence of asthma was 12.0% (95% CI: 11.1–13.1), and was significantly higher among women (13.5%) than men (10.5%). For participants aged 18–64 years a higher prevalence of asthma was associated with an education level of secondary school or lower, or not being in the paid labour force among men, and with a gross annual household income of $20 000 or less among women. Among socioeconomically advantaged groups, the prevalence of asthma was significantly higher among women than men.

Conclusions:  Socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with higher asthma prevalence, although this varied by gender depending on the indicator of socioeconomic position used. Men with low education or those not employed in the paid labour force had higher asthma prevalence than more socioeconomically advantaged men. Women with low income had higher asthma prevalence than those with higher income. Among all socioeconomically advantaged groups, and also the low-income group, women experienced a higher prevalence of asthma than men.

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