(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Income really is a life and death issue, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield studied the impact of income inequality on health and death rates. They analyzed data from 126 counties, which make up 94.4 percent of the world’s population.

Results show income inequality is a very real threat to health. Researchers report income has a bigger influence on death in wealthier countries in people between ages 15 and 29. Worldwide, the impact is most seen in people between ages 25 and 39.
 

Authors of the study write, “Income inequality seems to have an influence worldwide, especially for younger adults. Social inequality seems to have a universal negative impact on health. Humans are social animals and are not well constructed physiologically to survive in uncooperative surroundings -- particularly during the prime of life.”

Researchers report more study is needed to consider death rates and psychological morbidity by age and sex in relation to social inequalities between people.

Previous research has suggested greater income inequality within a nation is associated with higher mortality rates, but many of those studies, report these researchers, have focused solely on wealthier nations. This new study shows the effects of income inequality on health are a worldwide concern, not just an issue confined to wealthier nations.

SOURCE: British Medical Journal, published online, Oct. 22, 2007