Sudden Loss of Wealth Is Associated with All-Cause Mortality

Lower socioeconomic status is associated with poorer health status, but sudden loss of wealth might be as well. Researchers used a U.S. health and retirement database to identify about 9000 adults (age range, 51–61) and followed them for a mean 18 years. About 26% of subjects lost 75% or more of their wealth, 7% of subjects started and ended the follow-up period in poverty (defined as zero or negative net worth), and the rest maintained their wealth. Compared with those who maintained wealth, those who lost wealth were more likely to be female and nonwhite and to have poorer health at baseline.

At follow-up, unadjusted mortality was lower in those who maintained wealth than in those with loss of wealth (31 vs. 65 deaths per 1000 person-years…