SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS - THE PRIME INDICATOR OF PREMATURE DEATH IN AUSTRALIA

The link between socioeconomic status and health has long been recogni sed. This study of deaths among Australian men aged 15-59 years demons trates that during the 20-year period, 1966-86 the number of premature deaths was dramatically reduced among all socioeconomic groups, prima rily as a result of falls in death rates due to heart disease, stroke and trauma. However, the marked differences in death rates according t o social class remain, to the extent that if men of all social classes had the same mortality experiences as professional and technical work ers the overall death rates for Australian men would be reduced by 60% . Socioeconomic status is the most important indicator of health statu s among Australians.