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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 7/2018

Open Access 01-09-2018 | Original Article

Effect of childhood socioeconomic conditions on cancer onset in later life: an ambidirectional cohort study

Authors: Bernadette W. A. van der Linden, Delphine S. Courvoisier, Boris Cheval, Stefan Sieber, Piet Bracke, Idris Guessous, Claudine Burton-Jeangros, Matthias Kliegel, Stéphane Cullati

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 7/2018

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Abstract

Objectives

Living in low socioeconomic conditions during childhood is associated with poor health outcomes in later life. Whether this link also applies to cancer is unclear. We examined whether childhood socioeconomic conditions (CSCs) are associated with cancer risk in later life and whether this effect remained after adjusting for adulthood socioeconomic conditions (ASCs).

Methods

Data for 26,431 individuals ≥ 50 years old included in SHARE were analysed. CSCs were constructed by using indicators of living conditions at age 10. ASC indicators were education, main occupation, and household income. Gender-stratified associations of CSCs with cancer onset (overall and by site) were assessed by Cox regression.

Results

In total, 2852 individuals were diagnosed with cancer. For both men and women, risk of overall cancer was increased for advantaged CSCs and remained so after adjusting for ASCs (hazard ratio = 1.36, 95% CI 1.10, 1.63, and 1.70, 95% CI 1.41, 2.07).

Conclusions

Advantaged CSCs are associated with an increased risk of overall cancer at older age, but results vary by cancer sites and sex. Participation in cancer screening or exposure to risk factors may differ by social conditions.
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Metadata
Title
Effect of childhood socioeconomic conditions on cancer onset in later life: an ambidirectional cohort study
Authors
Bernadette W. A. van der Linden
Delphine S. Courvoisier
Boris Cheval
Stefan Sieber
Piet Bracke
Idris Guessous
Claudine Burton-Jeangros
Matthias Kliegel
Stéphane Cullati
Publication date
01-09-2018
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 7/2018
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1111-9

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