Primary education was associated with higher allostatic load compared to secondary and tertiary education across all age groups, and men had higher allostatic load than women throughout life.
Cohort (n=264,824)
Yes
There are significant socioeconomic inequalities and sex differences in allostatic load throughout the life-course, with higher physiological burden in men and those with lower education.
Background Allostatic load (AL) is the physiological burden of stress, and it is suggested to be a mediator between socioeconomic position and health. The aim of this article was to study life-course trajectories in levels of AL by employing data collected over three decades (1994–2019) to compare sex and socioeconomic groups in the adult Norwegian population. Methods Harmonised data from the following Norwegian health studies were used: the Trøndelag Health Study, the Tromsø Study, the Age 40 Program and CONOR. In total, 264 824 participants aged 30–79 years contributed with 346 312 health examinations. A combined AL score was calculated as the number of biomarkers in the worst quartile among the following eight variables: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index and waist-hip ratio. High-sensitivity C reactive protein and glycated haemoglobin were included in sensitivity analyses for a subset of participants. Life-course trajectories were analysed by using a linear mixed model. A shared-parameter model was employed to evaluate attrition caused by death. Results Participants with primary education had higher AL compared with secondary and tertiary educated people in all age groups. Men had higher AL than women throughout the life-course. Overall, AL increased with age but levelled off at higher ages among women and decreased at higher ages among men. Conclusions We found significant socioeconomic inequalities and sex differences in AL throughout the life-course. This highlights a potential for improvement in public health by effective treatment and public health measures to reduce AL inequities.
Storeng et al. (Fri,) conducted a cohort in Allostatic load (n=264,824). Primary education (lower socioeconomic position) vs. Secondary and tertiary education was evaluated on Life-course trajectories in levels of allostatic load. Primary education was associated with higher allostatic load compared to secondary and tertiary education across all age groups, and men had higher allostatic load than women throughout life.