摘要：Objectives . We assessed the associations of childhood socioeconomic position with cardiovascular disease risk factors (smoking, binge alcohol drinking, and being overweight) and examined the roles of educational attainment and cognitive functioning in these associations. Methods . Data were derived from a cohort study involving 7184 individuals who were born in Aberdeen, Scotland, between 1950 and 1956; had detailed records on perinatal characteristics, childhood anthropometry, and cognitive functioning; and responded to a mailed questionnaire when they were aged 45 to 52 years. Results . Strong graded associations existed between social class at birth and smoking, binge drinking, and being overweight. Adjustment for educational attainment completely attenuated these associations. However, after control for adult social class, adult income and other potential confounding or mediating factors, some association remained. Conclusions . Educational attainment is an important mediating factor in the relation between socioeconomic adversity in childhood and smoking, binge drinking, and being overweight in adulthood. Studies have revealed associations between low childhood socioeconomic position or status (SEP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors in later life that are independent of adult SEP. 1 – 15 However, most of these studies have involved the use of adults’ reports of childhood SEP, which may be incomplete and inaccurate. 16 Before developing effective policy interventions to abolish the link between low childhood SEP and CVD, it is necessary to understand the causal pathways connecting them. Low childhood socioeconomic position is associated with low cognitive functioning and low educational attainment. 17 Thus, it is plausible that cognitive function and educational attainment are important intermediaries in the association between childhood SEP and adult risk factors, factors that may in turn lead to CVD. The aims of the present study were to assess the associations of childhood SEP with CVD risk factors (smoking, binge alcohol drinking, and being overweight) and to examine the role of educational attainment and cognitive function in these associations in a cohort born in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, between 1950 and 1956.
