Abstract

Educational inequalities in blood pressure in Chilean adults in 2003 and 2010 Andrea Guerrero-Ahumada A Guerrero-Ahumada, H Pikhart, A Peasey Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London, London, UK Contact: [email protected] Hypertension is one of the main health problems in Chile and could be contributing importantly to health inequalities. Socioeconomic inequalities in blood pressure have been reported in different countries; however the results are not consistent. This study explores the presence of socioeconomic inequalities in blood pressure in Chile and its tendency over time. This study analyses socioeconomic inequalities in blood pressure in Chilean adults (20+years) using data from two nationally representative surveys conducted in 2003 (n = 3042) and 2010 (n = 4055). The association between systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and hypertension and education was assessed estimating Relative (RII) and Slope indices (SII) of inequalities for 2003 and 2010. Results Relative inequalities across educational levels were found in women but not in men in both surveys. RII in women were 1.09 for SBP (p < 0.01); 1.05 for DBP (p < 0.05) and 1.80 for hypertension (p < 0.01) in 2003. In 2010 RII was significant only for SBP (index 1.05, p < 0.05). Absolute educational inequalities were found in women in 2003 for all the three outcomes (SII 11.30 for SBP p < 0.01; 4.27 for DBP p < 0.05 and 0.14 for hypertension p < 0.05) which disappeared in 2010. Stratification by age group showed significant RII and SII for all three outcomes in 40–59 year group in 2003 (RII 1.11 for SBP; 1.07 for DBP and 1.58 hypertension, and SII 13.9 for SBP; 5.66 for DBP and 0.21 for hypertension) (p < 0.01). In 2010 indices were significant only for SBP in 40–59 group. Interactions between survey year and education showed a decrease of inequalities in women. Conclusions Although educational inequalities in blood pressure decreased over time, significant inequalities in SBP observed in women and in people aged 40–59 in 2003, were still present in 2010. According to these results, monitoring inequalities in blood pressure should include different outcomes and subpopulations such as gender and age groups. Key message There is an evidence of relative and absolute educational inequalities in SBP in Chile and it is particularly visible in women and those aged 40–59 both in 2003 and 2010