Gender differences in cumulative life-course socioeconomic position and social mobility in relation to new onset diabetes in adults-the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

PURPOSE

We investigated gender-specific associations of cumulative socioeconomic position across life course and social mobility with new onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in over 12,000 civil servants in Brazil.

METHODS

We used data from ELSA-Brasil baseline (2008-2010). The accumulation of risk was assessed using an education-based score and an occupation-based score. Educational and occupational social mobility were also evaluated.

RESULTS

In minimally adjusted models, NODM increased with increasing exposure to life-course social disadvantages, especially in men. This gender difference was pronounced when cumulative processes were evaluated by education-based scores (high vs. low cumulative social disadvantage, odds ratio [OR] = 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6-8.5 in men and OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.6 in women). After including proximal diabetes risk factors possibly acting as mediators, these associations remained high only in men (high vs. low cumulative social disadvantage, OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 2.4-8.1). Social mobility was associated with NODM in men. Compared to the high-stable trajectory, downward had greater associations than upward mobility. In women, when considering metabolic syndrome-related variables, changes in social hierarchy did not seem to have an influence on their risk of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Accumulation of risk and social mobility were associated with NODM with gender-specific patterns, suggesting differences in mechanisms connecting life-course socioeconomic position and diabetes in men and women.