SOCIAL INEQUALITIES FOR MYOCARDIAL-INFARC TION AND STROKE IN WEST-GERMANY

it is examined to which extent social inequalities exist in West-Germa ny (old federal states) regarding myocardial infarction and stroke in the general population. Databases were the regional and national healt h surveys which were conducted in the framework of the German Cardiova scular Prevention Study (GCP) from 1984 to 1991. 12 445 males and 13 3 35 females aged 40-69 years were included in this analysis. The assess ment of myocardial infarction and stroke was done by a self administer ed questionnaire. 648 (5.2 %) males and 252 (1.9 %) females reported a myocardial infarction. 209 (1.7 %) males and 143 (1.1 %) females repo rted a stroke. Social class was measured using an additive index compr ising the dimensions income, occupational status and education. For bo th genders it was found that the prevalence of myocardial infarction a nd stroke increased significantly with decreasing social class. This a ssociation remained significant also under control for age and the car diovascular disease risk factors cigarette smoking, hypertension, hype rcholesterolemia and overweight. The results clearly demonstrate that in West-Germany - as was shown already for many other western industri alized nations - social factors independently from the classical risk factors have a significant effect on the incidence of myocardial infar ction and stroke.