Researchers pooled 102 observational cohort studies, covering roughly 8.5 million participants across 24 countries, on childhood socioeconomic circumstances and mortality after age 18. Disadvantage was associated with higher mortality in 82% of 474 estimates, and the pooled hazard ratio for father's occupation was 1.26 (95% CI 1.18-1.35), equivalent to 181 excess deaths per 100 000 per year. Relative indices of inequality were 2.33 for economic circumstances and 2.28 for parental education, and cause-specific associations were strongest for respiratory mortality (HR 1.70-1.85) and lung cancer (HR 1.52).
Why it is interesting: Puts a standardised figure on the adult mortality gap associated with childhood circumstances, across world regions and risk-of-bias strata.