Workshop: Social-to-biological processes over the lifecourse and social inequalities in health

Abstract

Abstract Context Socioeconomic inequalities in health and ageing are observed across contexts and over time, presenting a challenge for public health. The mechanisms driving associations between social conditions and health include biological responses, which in turn are associated with health outcomes. This workshop aims to describe and discuss evidence on the biological embedding of the social environment from research carried out within a large European consortium, and place it within the context of public health. Methods The Lifepath project was funded by the European Commission between 2014-19 and brought together longitudinal datasets from across Europe, as well as an interdisciplinary collective of researchers keen to examine how social inequalities in health are constructed over the lifecourse. Results Four separate studies are presented here. First, Carmeli et al examine the relationship between social position and systemic inflammation through the mediating role of gene regulation. Second, Fraga et al describe the social patterning of chronic inflammation observed in early adolescence. Third, Castagné et al analyse the relationship between social position across the lifecourse and systemic inflammation, and the role of inflammation within the allostatic load heuristic. Fourth, Chadeau-Hyam et al describe social gradients in a multi-system biological health score, and its subsequent relationship with a number of major health outcomes. Discussion We will coordinate a discussion between the audience and workshop participants. The contribution of the inflammatory system to capturing social inequalities and in its association with chronic disease will be discussed. Is it a key player in the construction of health inequalities, or merely an effective signal for many diverse processes? The role biological markers can play in enhancing our understanding of health inequalities, and how the public health community can respond to the evidence will be discussed. Conclusions Socially patterned biological responses begin early in the lifecourse and may be key factors in the construction of social inequalities in health and ageing. As such, they should be taken into account in public health activities and policy. Key messages The biological embodiment of social conditions is observed from early life and across the lifecourse. Systemic inflammation appears to be a central mechanism which is socially patterned and associated with many health outcomes.