Explaining the social patterning of lung function in adulthood at different ages: The roles of childhood precursors, health behaviours and environmental factors

This cross-sectional study examined to what extent socioeconomic patterning of lung function (in particular FEV1) varied with age in 24,500 individuals enrolled in the 1995, 1998, and 2003 Scottish Health Surveys. Lung function was assessed by a nurse using Vitalograph spirometers compatible across the three surveys (the Vitalograph Escort in 1995 and 1998 and the Vitalograph Micro spirometer in 2003).