The social costs of disease

Abstract

The goal of this work was to observe and analyze health inequalities, taking into consideration the influence that the
social background of individuals has in the production and reproduction of inequalities. Taking ISTAT reports as databases, which concern aspects of daily life, the results - also confirmed by the literature and by countless empirical
studies on the subject - agree with the thesis according to, in later life, the decline in the state of health appears to be
delayed for subjects who occupy a highest social positions and a higher educational qualification, compared to those
who are in disadvantaged socio-economic conditions and with a lower educational qualification. Differences that are
also recorded in the purchase and consumption of drugs.