Hong Kong men with low incomes have worse health-related quality of life as judged by SF-36 scores

GTC Ko, HPS Wai, PCC Tsang, HCK Chan
Department of Medicine, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Tai Po, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To analyse the association between income and health-related quality of life using the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) Chinese version in Hong Kong Chinese working population.

DESIGN. Cross-sectional observation study.

SETTING. A commercial company in Hong Kong.

PARTICIPANTS. All clerical and administrative staff of a commercial company was invited to participate; 876 of the 1003 staff agreed. The subjects were categorised into three income groups according to monthly income in Hong Kong dollars (low, <=10 000; middle, >10 000-25 000; high, >25 000). The mean age of the 288 men and 588 women was 34.9 (standard deviation, 7.9; median, 34.0; range, 18-71) years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. SF-36 scores on health-related quality of life.

RESULTS. The distribution of income was 30% in high-, 54.8% in middle-, and 15.2% in low-income groups. Women had similar SF-36 scores among different income groups. In men, for most variables there was a significant positive linear correlation between income and SF-36 scores.

CONCLUSION. Low income is associated with a worse health-related quality of life in Hong Kong Chinese men.

Hong Kong Med J 2006;12:351-4

Key words: Asian continental ancestry group; Hong Kong; Income; Quality of life