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Socioeconomic status and chronic diseases: The case of hypertension in China

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  • Lei, Xiaoyan
  • Yin, Nina
  • Zhao, Yaohui

Abstract

China has undergone a rapid epidemiological transition from infectious to chronic diseases, a process characterized by widespread under-diagnosis of chronic diseases and low rates of treatment and control. This paper uses hypertension as an example and documents the association of socioeconomic status with various measures of this condition, i.e., prevalence, awareness, treatment and control. We find no wealth and education gradients in the prevalence of hypertension. Given education, wealth plays some roles in improving the treatment and control of hypertension. Some associations exist between education and diagnosis/treatment/control in urban areas but not in rural areas. We also find that the public health care services in China contribute little in informing patients of their hypertension status, suggesting that how to improve the effectiveness of the health care system in dealing with emerging chronic illnesses should be policy priority.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei, Xiaoyan & Yin, Nina & Zhao, Yaohui, 2012. "Socioeconomic status and chronic diseases: The case of hypertension in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 105-121.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:23:y:2012:i:1:p:105-121
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2011.08.004
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    Cited by:

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    2. Thomas, Ranjeeta & Burger, Ronelle & Hauck, Katharina, 2018. "Richer, wiser and in better health? The socioeconomic gradient in hypertension prevalence, unawareness and control in South Africa," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 90297, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Chee‐Ruey Hsieh & Xuezheng Qin, 2018. "Depression hurts, depression costs: The medical spending attributable to depression and depressive symptoms in China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 525-544, March.
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    6. Thomas, Ranjeeta & Burger, Ronelle & Hauck, Katharina, 2018. "Richer, wiser and in better health? The socioeconomic gradient in hypertension prevalence, unawareness and control in South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 18-30.
    7. Qiufeng Gao & Lanxi Peng & Wenbin Min & Jingchun Nie & Aiqin Wang & Yaojiang Shi & Haonan Shi & Dirk E. Teuwen & Hongmei Yi, 2020. "Regularity of Clinical Visits and Medication Adherence of Patients with Hypertension or Diabetes in Rural Yunnan Province of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Qin, Xuezheng & Pan, Jay & Liu, Gordon G., 2014. "Does participating in health insurance benefit the migrant workers in China? An empirical investigation," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 263-278.
    9. Peng Nie & Andrew E. Clarck & Conchita D'Ambrosio & Lanlin Ding, 2020. "Income-related health inequality in urban China (1991-2015): The role of homeownership and housing conditions," Working Papers 524, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    10. Nie, Peng & Otterbach, Steffen & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2015. "Long work hours and health in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 212-229.
    11. Peng Nie & Alfonso Sousa-Poza & Jianhong Xue, 2016. "Fuel for Life: Domestic Cooking Fuels and Women’s Health in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, August.
    12. Jason R. D. Rarick & Carly Tubbs Dolan & Wen‐Jui Han & Jun Wen, 2018. "Relations Between Socioeconomic Status, Subjective Social Status, and Health in Shanghai, China," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(1), pages 390-405, March.
    13. Lei, Xiaoyan & Song, Guangxiang & Su, Xuejuan, 2021. "Information, Belief, and Health Behavior: Evidence from China," Working Papers 2021-9, University of Alberta, Department of Economics.
    14. Yu, Yangyang & Sloan, Frank A., 2017. "Trends in elderly health by cohort: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 282-295.
    15. Yi Liao & Stuart Gilmour & Kenji Shibuya, 2016. "Health Insurance Coverage and Hypertension Control in China: Results from the China Health and Nutrition Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, March.
    16. Yiwei Chen & Hui Ding & Min Yu & Jieming Zhong & Ruying Hu & Xiangyu Chen & Chunmei Wang & Kaixu Xie & Karen Eggleston, 2019. "The Effects of Primary Care Chronic-Disease Management in Rural China," NBER Working Papers 26100, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Laurene Petitfour & Xiezhe Huangfu & Martine Audibert & Jacky Mathonnat, 2015. "Estimating and explaining the efficiency of township hospitals in Shandong province in the context of the drug policy reform," CERDI Working papers halshs-01180621, HAL.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Socioeconomic status; Chronic diseases; Hypertension; Under-diagnosis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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