Background: The major objective of the study was to assess whether the exte
nt of health inequalities varies between East and West Germany and whether
differences in social inequalities between both parts of Germany are associ
ated with differences in health inequalities. Methods: Data were available
from a representative sample of 5,311 persons from West Germany and 2,414 p
ersons from East Germany in the same age group (25-69 years). The study pro
tocol was nearly identical in both studies. Socioeconomic status (SES) was
assessed by household equivalent income and by educational level. Health st
atus was assessed by perceived general hearth and by the number of chronic
conditions. Absolute differences as well as relative differences (odds rati
os) in the morbidity rates between low and high SES groups were calculated.
All analyses were performed separately for men and women. Results: Income
inequalities are larger in West Germany as compared with East Germany, but
there are minor differences between East and West Germany concerning educat
ional inequalities and morbidity rates. Just about all measures indicated t
hat health inequalities favouring the upper socioeconomic groups exist in E
ast Germany as well as in West Germany and that there are no significant di
fferences in the extent of health inequalities between both parts of German
y. Conclusion: Using two data sets which were raised with nearly identical
study protocols, it can be concluded that health inequalities are very stab
ile as they do not seem to differ substantially despite the fact that both
parts of Germany have experienced different social systems during the past
45 years.