Relative and absolute socioeconomic inequality in smoking: Time trends in Germany from 1995 to 2013

Menée par enquêtes réalisées au cours de la période 1995-2013 auprès de 857 264 participants (âge : 25-64 ans), cette étude analyse les inégalités socio-économiques dans la prévalence du tabagisme en Allemagne, en fonction du sexe

Résumé en anglais

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate time trends in relative and absolute socioeconomic inequality in smoking prevalence in Germany using several indicators for socioeconomic position.

Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using representative samples of the German population in 1995, 1999, 2005, 2009 and 2013 aged between 25 and 64 years (N = 857,264). Socioeconomic position was measured by indicators for income, education and occupation. Relative and absolute socioeconomic inequalities were estimated with the regression based relative index of inequality and the slope index of inequality, respectively. Trends in inequalities were estimated with interaction terms for time and relative index of inequality/slope index of inequality.

Results: Highest and increasing smoking prevalence was observed among long-term unemployed and people with less than 60% of the median household income. Between 1995 and 2013, relative increases in inequalities in smoking prevalence ranged from 31% (95% confidence interval: 26%-36%) (men, occupation) to 94% (84%-104%) (women, education). Absolute increases ranged from 6.2 (4.7-7.6) percentage points (men, occupation) to 20.3 (18.9-21.7) percentage points (women, education).

Conclusions: Relative and absolute socioeconomic inequalities in smoking prevalence increased in Germany between 1995 and 2013, with regard to income, education and occupation, particularly among women.