AN ANALYSIS OF THE LINK BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL, BIOLOGICAL & SOCIAL RISK FACTORS and Subsequent Hospital Admission in Scotland
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the association between risk factors and hospital admission.
Methods The 1998 Scottish Health Survey was linked to the Scottish hospital admission database.
Findings Smoking was the most important behavioral risk factor (hazard ratio: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.59–2.27). Other behavioral risk factors yielded small but largely anticipated results. Hazard ratios for biological risks increased predictably but with some exceptions (blood pressure and total cholesterol).
