[Social inequality in myocardial infarct and stroke in West Germany]

It is examined to which extent social inequalities exist in West-Germany (old federal states) regarding myocardial infarction and stroke in the general population. Databases were the regional and national health surveys which were conducted in the framework of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (GCP) from 1984 to 1991. 12.445 males and 13,335 females aged 40-69 years were included in this analysis. The assessment of myocardial infarction and stroke was done by a self administered questionnaire. 648 (5.2%) males and 252 (1.9%) females reported a myocardial infarction. 209 (1.7%) males and 143 (1.1%) females reported a stroke. Social class was measured using an additive index comprising the dimensions income, occupational status and education. For both genders it was found that the prevalence of myocardial infarction and stroke increased significantly with decreasing social class. This association remained significant also under control for age and the cardiovascular disease risk factors cigarette smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and overweight. The results clearly demonstrate that in West-Germany--as was shown already for many other western industrialized nations--social factors independently from the classical risk factors have a significant effect on the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke.