BACKGROUND: previous studies examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and telomere length showed conflicting results, one study finding shorter telomere length in subjects with lower socioeconomic status and one showing no relationship. DESIGN: cross-sectional study. SETTING: community-living elderly Chinese in Hong Kong. OBJECTIVE: this study examines the relationship between self-rated social economic status and telomere length in Hong Kong Chinese men and women aged 65 years and over living in the community. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: information was collected from 958 men and 978 women regarding possible confounding factors such as the presence of chronic diseases, smoking, physical activity level, dietary intake and body mass index. Telomere length was measured by quantitative PCR. RESULT: in men only, after adjustment for age and other confounding factors, a higher ranking in community standing was associated with shorter telomere length. CONCLUSION: men with higher self-rated socioeconomic status have shorter telomeres, possibly mediated through psychosocial rather than lifestyle factors or the presence of chronic disease. There may be cultural ethnic and age-related differences in social determinants of health.
BACKGROUND: previous studies examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and telomere length showed conflicting results, one study finding shorter telomere length in subjects with lower socioeconomic status and one showing no relationship. DESIGN: cross-sectional study. SETTING: community-living elderly Chinese in Hong Kong. OBJECTIVE: this study examines the relationship between self-rated social economic status and telomere length in Hong Kong Chinese men and women aged 65 years and over living in the community. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: information was collected from 958 men and 978 women regarding possible confounding factors such as the presence of chronic diseases, smoking, physical activity level, dietary intake and body mass index. Telomere length was measured by quantitative PCR. RESULT: in men only, after adjustment for age and other confounding factors, a higher ranking in community standing was associated with shorter telomere length. CONCLUSION:men with higher self-rated socioeconomic status have shorter telomeres, possibly mediated through psychosocial rather than lifestyle factors or the presence of chronic disease. There may be cultural ethnic and age-related differences in social determinants of health.
Authors: Katherine P Theall; Zoë H Brett; Elizabeth A Shirtcliff; Erin C Dunn; Stacy S Drury Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2013-02-27 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Robert L Tennyson; Lee T Gettler; Christopher W Kuzawa; M Geoffrey Hayes; Sonny S Agustin; Dan T A Eisenberg Journal: Am J Hum Biol Date: 2018-08-20 Impact factor: 1.937
Authors: Kaori Fujishiro; Ana V Diez-Roux; Paul A Landsbergis; Nancy Swords Jenny; Teresa Seeman Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2013-05-18 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Tony Robertson; G David Batty; Geoff Der; Candida Fenton; Paul G Shiels; Michaela Benzeval Journal: Epidemiol Rev Date: 2012-12-20 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Tony Robertson; G David Batty; Geoff Der; Michael J Green; Liane M McGlynn; Alan McIntyre; Paul G Shiels; Michaela Benzeval Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-07-23 Impact factor: 3.240