Key result
Surgery for congenital heart disease did not alter social mobility among those in the labor market; social background drove upward mobility in patients (beta=0.73) and controls (beta=0.65).
Why the study?
Does surgery for congenital heart disease affect intergenerational social mobility compared to the general population?
Observational (n=5,178)
Does surgery for congenital heart disease affect intergenerational social mobility compared to the general population?
Patients with congenital heart disease who enter the labor market experience intergenerational social mobility rates comparable to the general population, primarily driven by their social background.
Social background drives mobility in congenital heart disease survivors; leaves open whether surgical or other interventions can modify socioeconomic trajectories.
BACKGROUND: To examine whether operated congenital heart disease (CHD) is setting preconditions for an active life by comparing intergenerational social mobility in patients with a population sample. DESIGN AND METHODS: The patient sample consisted of 314 females (42.1%) and males who underwent surgery for CHD (mean age at surgery 7.3 years, SD 7.8). According to the type of surgery, patients were classified as curative, reparative, or palliative. Consequently, the three groups reflect increasing severities of the initial heart defect. The mean age at examination was 26.9 years (7.6). Controls consisted of individuals who participated in the 2002 survey of the German Socio-Economic Panel. All individuals with complete sociodemographic information were included, and the final sample consisted of 4864 women (46.1%) and men (mean age 32.5 years, SD 7.2). RESULTS: Once having entered the labour market, intergenerational social mobility between patients and controls did not differ. For upward mobility respondents' social background was the key determinant; the respective standardized regression effect was beta=0.66. After dividing the study population, the social background turned out to having a slightly stronger effect in patients (beta=0.73) than in controls (beta=0.65). For downward mobility effects of the social background were smaller than for upward mobility (beta=0.19 in patients and beta=0.21 in controls). In economically active patients CHD severity did not determine social mobility. DISCUSSION: We conclude that a large proportion of patients could not or did not enter the labour market. Those who did experienced social mobility rates that are comparable with the general population.
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Geyer et al. (2007) conducted an observational in Congenital heart disease (n=5,178). Surgery for congenital heart disease vs. General population was evaluated on Intergenerational social mobility. Surgery for congenital heart disease did not alter social mobility among those in the labor market; social background drove upward mobility in patients (beta=0.73) and controls (beta=0.65).
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