Relative and absolute socioeconomic inequality in smoking: time trends in Germany from 1995 to 2013

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to investigate time trends in relative and absolute socioeconomic inequality in smoking prevalence in Germany using several indicators for socioeconomic position. Methods We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using representative samples of the German population aged between 25 and 64 years in 1995, 1999, 2005, 2009, and 2013 (n = 857,264). Socioeconomic position was measured by indicators for income, education, and occupation. Relative and absolute socioeconomic inequalities were estimated with the regression-based relative index of inequality and the slope index of inequality, respectively. Trends in inequalities were estimated with interaction te…