Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Over the past 30 years, China has had an increasing number of people with angina alongside a rapid economic development and population aging. China has also seen an increase in the income gap between rich and poor. The association between socioeconomic deprivation (SED) and survival of older adults with angina is unclear. Methods: In 2001-2003, we interviewed 1457 people aged â�?¥ 60 years who had minimal educational levels in Anhui province, China, having characterised socio-demographics and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and documented doctor-diagnosed angina at baseline. One year after baseline, survivors were re-interviewed to document incident angina. The vital status of all cohort members was followed up over five years. A Cox regression model was used to calculate hazards ratio (HR) of mortality in relation to SED. Results: 131 participants with angina at baseline or at one-year follow up had an increased mortality (23.7%) compared to those without angina (mortality 14.2%). The multivariate adjusted HR in angina patients living in rural areas versus nonangina participants living in urban areas was 8.45 (95%CI 1.93-37.0). Multivariate adjusted HR among angina patients having a low level of education, occupational class or income versus non-angina participants having high levels was 2.41 (1.38-4.22), 2.15 (1.11-4.17) and 2.88 (1.40-5.92) respectively. Within angina patients, an increased HR was significantly observed for patients living in rural versus urban (4.99, 1.09-22.9), but not in those with other indicators of SED. Conclusions: In China, reducing surviving inequality in older adults with angina should be addressed in rural areas.

Biography

Weiju Zhou is a PhD student in Epidemiology and Global Health Research under the supervisions of Drs Alex Hopkins and Ruoling Chen (DoS) at the University of Wolverhampton (UoW), UK. On obtaining his first-class BSc from UoW in June 2016, Weiju started his PhD study. His research interesting areas cover Coronary Heart Disease and Health Inequality. Weiju examines the data of a large cohort of Chinese older adults to address important research questions from the PhD proposal. He has co-authored a paper published in peer-reviewed journal. Mr Zhou is President of the Wolverhampton Chinese Students and Scholars Association, UK.