Background Social status is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence and incidence. We aimed to study relationships between i) socioeconomic position (SEP) and common CVD biomarkers; cholesterol, LDL/HDL, ApoB/ApoA1 and adiponectin ii) SEP and CVD mortality in a Swedish-population-based sample, and to assess if these associations changed with age.

Design A longitudinal cohort study of men born 1920-24 with clinical measurements, blood samples, questionnaire data and register-based information on SEP and cause of death.

Methods Of 2322 men that participated in an investigation at age 50, 1221 attended a reinvestigation at age 70. SEP was measured as occupational class and educational level. Linear regression (adjusted for age, body mass index and physical activity) was used to study associations between SEP and CVD biomarkers. CVD mortality over 36 year's follow-up was analysed by Cox regression.

Results At age 50: We found significant inverse associations of education and occupational group with mean cholesterol levels, whereas LDL/HDL ratio was associated with education only. These were statistically significant after adjustment for covariates. No significant associations were found between either measure of SEP and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio. At age 70: No significant associations were found between either measurement of SEP and any biomarker studied. Men classified as highest educated and non-manual had decreased risk for CVD mortality during follow-up.

Conclusions Associations of SEP with cholesterol levels and LDL/HDL ratio that exist at age 50, are no longer found in the same group of men at age 70. We found no significant association between SEP and adiponectin levels at age 70.