Table 1

 Odds ratios of limiting longstanding illness at age 50 according to cross sectional and life course measures of socioeconomic position

MenWomen
Total nN (%) reporting LLSIOR* (95% CI)χ2 (p value)Total nN (%) reporting LLSIOR (95% CI)χ2 (p value)
LLSI, limiting longstanding illness; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence intervals; NM, non-manual social classes; M, manual social classes.
Cross sectional SEP, age 0
    NM586 (10.3)1.007812 (15.4)1.00
    M17639 (22.2)2.47 (0.98 to 6.23)3.90 (0.048)20936 (17.2)1.14 (0.56 to 2.34)0.14 (0.71)
Cross sectional SEP, age 25
    NM988 (8.2)1.0013719 (13.9)1.00
    M12639 (31.0)5.04 (2.15 to 11.81)17.19 (<0.0001)13725 (18.3)1.39 (0.72 to 2.66)0.97 (0.32)
Cross sectional SEP, age 50
    NM14211 (7.8)1.0018627 (14.6)1.00
    M10438 (36.5)6.86 (3.12 to 15.05)31.07 (<0.0001)9716 (16.5)1.16 (0.59 to 2.27)0.18 (0.67)
Cumulative SEP (number of time in manual RGSC)
    0392 (5.1)1.00445 (11.4)1.00
    1524 (7.7)1.54 (0.26 to 8.99)8412 (14.3)1.30 (0.42 to 3.98)
    2427 (16.7)3.70 (0.69, 19.79)5913 (22.0)2.20 (0.71 to 6.84)
    36926 (37.7)11.19 (2.22 to 56.37)21.90 (<0.0001)568 (14.3)1.30 (0.39 to 4.32)0.50 (0.48)
SEP trajectory, 0–25
    stable NM392 (5.1)1.00485 (10.4)1.00
    upward556 (10.9)2.27 (0.42 to 12.08)8314 (16.9)1.74 (0.58 to 5.23)
    downward112 (18.2)4.11 (0.48 to 35.49)194 (21.1)2.29 (0.53 to 9.93)
    stable M10030 (30.0)7.93 (1.69 to 37.23)11.36 (0.0008)10319 (18.5)1.95 (0.67 to 5.62)1.12 (0.29)
SEP trajectory, 25–50
    stable NM876 (6.9)1.0012116 (13.2)1.00
    upward374 (10.8)1.64 (0.43 to 6.23)5510 (18.2)1.49 (0.61 to 3.47)
    downward102 (20.0)3.38 (0.57 to 20.12)131 (7.7)0.55 (0.07 to 4.54)
    stable M8534 (40.0)9.00 (3.24 to 24.96)25.07 (<0.0001)7412 (16.2)1.27 (0.56 to 2.87)0.60 (0.44)
SEP trajectory, 0–50
    stable NM502 (4.0)1.00576 (10.5)1.00
    upward848 (9.5)2.53 (0.51 to 12.58)11621 (18.1)1.88 (0.71 to 4.99)
    downward63 (50.0)24.00 (2.00 to 288.55)164 (25.0)2.83 (0.67 to 12.01)
    stable M8528 (32.9)11.79 (2.42 to 57.39)14.25 (0.0002)7010 (14.3)1.42 (0.48 to 4.19)0.30 (0.58)