Using marginal structural models to estimate the direct effect of adverse childhood social conditions on onset of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

TitleUsing marginal structural models to estimate the direct effect of adverse childhood social conditions on onset of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsNandi, A, M. Glymour, M, Kawachi, I, VanderWeele, TJ
JournalEpidemiology
Volume23
Issue2
Pagination223-32
Date Published2012 Mar
ISSN Number1531-5487
KeywordsAge Factors, Age of Onset, Child, Diabetes Mellitus, Educational Status, Female, Heart Diseases, Humans, Income, Linear Models, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Risk Factors, Social Class, Social Conditions, Socioeconomic factors, Stroke, United States
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Early-life socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with adult chronic disease, but it is unclear whether this effect is mediated entirely via adult SES or whether there is a direct effect of adverse early-life SES on adult disease. Major challenges in evaluating these alternatives include imprecise measurement of early-life SES and bias in conventional regression methods to assess mediation. In particular, conventional regression approaches to direct effect estimation are biased when there is time-varying confounding of the association between adult SES and chronic disease by chronic disease risk factors.

METHODS: First-reported heart disease, diabetes, and stroke diagnoses were assessed in a national sample of 9760 Health and Retirement Study participants followed biennially from 1992 through 2006. Early-life and adult SES measures were derived using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Early-life SES was measured by parental education, father's occupation, region of birth, and childhood rural residence. Adult SES was measured by respondent's education, occupation, labor force status, household income, and household wealth. Using marginal structural models, we estimated the direct effect of early-life SES on chronic disease onset that was not mediated by adult SES. Marginal structural models were estimated with stabilized inverse probability-weighted log-linear models to adjust for risk factors that may have confounded associations between adult SES and chronic disease.

RESULTS: During follow-up, 24%, 18%, and 9% of participants experienced first onset of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, respectively. Comparing those in the most disadvantaged with the least disadvantaged quartile, early-life SES was associated with coronary heart disease (risk ratio = 1.30 [95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.51]) and diabetes (1.23 [1.02-1.48]) and marginally associated with stroke via pathways not mediated by adult SES.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that early-life socioeconomic experiences directly influence adult chronic disease outcomes.

Notes

Nandi, Arijit Glymour, M Maria Kawachi, Ichiro VanderWeele, Tyler J HD060696/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States Epidemiology. 2012 Mar;23(2):223-32.

DOI10.1097/EDE.0b013e31824570bd
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22317806?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Age Factors/Age of Onset/Child/Diabetes Mellitus/Educational Status/Female/Heart Diseases/Income/Linear Models/Linear Models/Models, Statistical/Risk Factors/Social Class/Social Conditions/Socioeconomic Factors/Stroke

Endnote ID

69590

Alternate JournalEpidemiology
Citation Key7744
PubMed ID22317806
PubMed Central IDPMC3414366
Grant ListR03 HD060696 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
R03 HD060696-02 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
HD060696 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States