Abstract
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and high mortality are more common in lower social classes than in higher social classes in Finland. Researchers analyzed questionnaires, medical tests, and census data from 1972 and 1977 on 8967 men. The subjects were between 30- and 64-years old and their social class was determined by occupation, in the following descending order: white collar worker, skilled blue collar worker, unskilled blue collar worker, and farmer. Most cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension, and cholesterol levels were least common among white collar workers and most common among unskilled blue collar workers. Mortality rates were highest among unskilled blue collar workers and lowest among white collar workers. However these differences in mortality were reduced by statistical adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, mortality differences between classes could be reduced by changing health behavior as well as instituting equalizing social policy.