Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health

The health of individuals varies according to socioeconomic characteristics reflecting, at least in part, different exposures to factors that influence health. Since populations comprise groups of individuals, and these groups tend not to be random, e.g. groups defined by geography or on the basis of occupation, there are differences between the health of different populations. Understanding such health inequalities plays an important part in improving the health of the population. Health inequalities remain constant or are increasing and it is unclear how to reduce them. We are improving methods to analyse routinely collected health data and surveys and using new linkages of health to social data, aiming to improve our understanding of inequalities in health and improve intervention strategies. The programme is organised into three themes: Health inequalities and linked data analysis; Natural experiments from observational data; and Enhancing cohort, survey and routine data sources. Our focus on existing data sources represents a cost-effective means of working, capitalising on substantial investment in surveys and cohorts as well as ‘big data’. We benefit from our location in Scotland with its outstanding systems of linked routine health data, and our research team is recognised internationally for expertise in the analysis of these data and for methodological rigour and innovation.