Method: Data for this study were from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS). The sample size consisted of 3,413 Canadians aged 18-79 (1,601 male and 1,812 female). Oral health indicators in this study were the total number of decayed and missing teeth. General health was measured as obesity and high blood pressure. Socioeconomic status was measured as equivalized household income. We used the concentration index (CI) and concentration curves to quantify the health inequalities. Values of concentration index (CI) range from -1 to +1 with negative (or positive) concentration indices showing that the outcome is more concentrated among the less well off (or among the better off). Data analyses were performed using STATA 11.1 and ADePT. All statistical analyses were weight-adjusted for complex survey design and standardized for age.
Result: The CI’s for oral health outcomes (decayed teeth= -0.25, missing teeth= -0.15) were greater than the CI’s for general health outcomes (obesity= -0.05, high blood pressure= -0.04). The CI’s for oral health outcomes, in contrast to the CI’s for general health outcomes were statistically significant. The female CI’s for oral health outcomes were greater than those for males. The CI’s for general health outcomes did not vary between sexes.
Conclusion: There were income-related inequalities for oral health outcomes with the disease concentrated more among the poor. Inequalities in oral health were greater than inequalities in general health. There was a sex difference in the pattern of oral health inequalities with greater magnitude of inequality present among females. The magnitude of inequalities for general health outcomes did not vary according to sex.