Gary D. Klein, PhD¹, Lisa Kleiner, JD, MSS², Abdul Beraima, PhD¹, and Francine Axler, MPH². (1) Information Systems Division, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St., Phila, PA 19102, 215-985-2564, gary@phmc.org, (2) Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St., Phila, PA 19102

Do asthma and diabetes rates among adults with lower socioeconomic status (SES) differ depending upon the larger SES level of the communities in which they reside? This presentation examines this question by comparing asthma and diabetes rates of lower SES adults who live in lower SES communities to those who live in middle and upper SES communities.

Data are from Philadelphia Health Management Corporation's 2002 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, a representative telephone survey of 10,000 households in a five-county area, and the 2000 U.S. Census. SES was calculated for each survey respondent and for each census tract utilizing cluster analysis of education and income variables.

Results show that 13.5% of lower SES adults residing in lower SES areas have asthma compared to 7.6% of lower SES adults who live in middle and upper SES areas. This difference is not as striking for lower SES adults with diabetes; 13.3% living in lower SES areas have diabetes compared to 10.8% for those residing in middle and upper SES areas. In addition, there is a wide difference in diabetes prevalence between low SES and higher SES individuals residing in higher SES communities (10.8% vs. 3.0% respectively). However, no similar difference exists in asthma prevalence between the two SES-based groups (7.6% vs. 7.2%). This pattern holds when controlling for age and race.

These results are useful in beginning to explore the relationship between socioeconomic status, the physical and social environment and health.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the greater improvement in asthma than in diabetes rates for lower SES individuals who reside in higher SES communities.
• Articulate the greater disparity in diabetes than in asthma rates between lower and higher SES individuals who reside in higher SES communities.
• Discuss physical environmental and social environmental implications of the different patterns in asthma and diabetes rates.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Social Class Measurement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.