Older men with higher self-rated socioeconomic status have shorter telomeres

Abstract

Background: previous studies examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and telomere length showed conflicting results, one study finding shorter telomere length in subjects with lower socioeconomic status and one showing no relationship. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: community-living elderly Chinese in Hong Kong. Objective: this study examines the relationship between self-rated social economic status and telomere length in Hong Kong Chinese men and women aged 65 years and over living in the community. Subjects and method: information was collected from 958 men and 978 women regarding possible confounding factors such as the presence of chronic diseases, smoking, physical activity level, dietary intake and body mass index. Telomere length was measured by quantitative PCR. Result: in men only, after adjustment for age and other confounding factors, a higher ranking in community standing was associated with shorter telomere length. Conclusion: men with higher self-rated socioeconomic status have shorter telomeres, possibly mediated through psychosocial rather than lifestyle factors or the presence of chronic disease. There may be cultural ethnic and age-related differences in social determinants of health. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.