OBJECTIVE. To analyse the association between income and health-related quality of life using the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) Chinese version in Hong Kong Chinese working population.

DESIGN. Cross-sectional observation study.

SETTING. A commercial company in Hong Kong.

PARTICIPANTS. All clerical and administrative staff of a commercial company was invited to participate; 876 of the 1003 staff agreed. The subjects were categorised into three income groups according to monthly income in Hong Kong dollars (low, <=10 000; middle, >10 000-25 000; high, >25 000). The mean age of the 288 men and 588 women was 34.9 (standard deviation, 7.9; median, 34.0; range, 18-71) years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. SF-36 scores on health-related quality of life.

RESULTS. The distribution of income was 30% in high-, 54.8% in middle-, and 15.2% in low-income groups. Women had similar SF-36 scores among different income groups. In men, for most variables there was a significant positive linear correlation between income and SF-36 scores.

CONCLUSION. Low income is associated with a worse health-related quality of life in Hong Kong Chinese men.

Key words: Asian continental ancestry group; Hong Kong; Income; Quality of life

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