We use data from a large nationally representative UK study, the UK Household Longitudinal Survey (UKHLS), to investigate how estimates of the magnitude of health inequalities in the population aged 45 and over differ when using self-reported and observer-measured indicators. We compared variations by key indicators of socio-economic position assessed using three categories of health indicator: self-reported measures; anthropometric and physical performance biomarkers; and biomarkers derived from blood analytes. In most cases the estimates of health inequality based on self-reported measures were larger than the other estimates. This may be because the biomarkers considered focussed on physical rather than mental health problems, whereas the latter were included in the self-reported measures. Additionally a high proportion of study members declined to provide blood samples leading to reduced statistical power. We conclude that self-reported indicators of health have continuing value in assessing health inequalities.

Co-authors

Professor Michael Murphy, London School of Economics