Indicators of socio-economic position and their relation to mortality in Sweden

This paper estimates the effects on mortality of some indicators of socio-economic position such as employment status (SEI), education and housing tenure. The data from 32,853 persons aged 25–64 were collected from seven independent samples of the Swedish population in 1979–1985. The study was designed as a longitudinal follow-up study ranging from day of interview to December 1993. Information on the dependent variable was obtained from the Cause of Death Register by the personal registration number. The data were analysed by a proportional hazard model. Being a low educated female or renting a flat was associated with increased mortality when tested simultaneously for all independent variables. The excess mortality among unskilled persons and skilled labourers/lower level employees (males) disappeared in successive models when one variable at a time was included in the main models. Sickness pension for males and females, long-term unemployment for males, and ethnicity were also related to increased mortality.