Cardiovascular
Social Risk Factors Associated with Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Among US Adults Aged ≥18 Years Guixiang Zhao* Guixiang Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao CDC
Background: Social risk factors are non-medical factors that influence people’s health and exacerbate existing chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between social risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke among US adults.
Methods: The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System collected data on a series of social risk factors including life satisfaction; social and emotional support; social isolation/loneliness; employment stability; food, housing, and utilities security; transportation access; mental stress; and health care access. Weighted prevalences for CHD and stroke were estimated by individual or cumulative social risk factors, and the associations were assessed by conducting log-linear regression analyses with adjustment for potential confounders.
Results: The prevalences of CHD and stroke were significantly higher among adults with most social risk factors (except for employment instability and no health insurance coverage) compared to those without. After adjustment for demographic characteristics and traditional CVD risk factors, the adjusted prevalences for CHD and stroke remained significantly higher for adults with most social risk factors (except for no health insurance coverage) compared to those without. The relative increases ranged from 13% for CHD and 14% for stroke among those lacking social and emotional support, to 64% and 78%, respectively, for those lacking reliable transportation. Increasing number of social risk factors were linearly and positively associated with higher adjusted prevalences of CHD and stroke
Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight strong associations between various social and economic factors and increased prevalences of CHD and stroke. Because the temporality and causality cannot be inferred from this study, future research may focus on whether addressing social risk factors along with medical therapy and lifestyle modifications could help improve cardiovascular health.