Aims: The aim of this project is to explore how contextual social conditions and individual socioeconomic status jointly affect premature cardiovascular mortality in Texas in order to develop a new, socially grounded approach to interventions for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors in the different population groups of Texas. Methods: Census tract and county level socioeconomic census information was obtained by geocoding the address of all individuals identified from the death certificate as having died of heart disease in Texas during 1990 (N=52,157). Multilevel models were used to model the contributions of individual characteristics (race/ethnicity, marital status and education from the death certificate), community level characteristics (median income, adult educational attainment and occupation at the tract level) and county level social conditions (median income, income inequality, poverty rate, unemployment, demographic factors) on years of life lost due to heart disease. Results: In preliminary results, the years of life lost to heart disease were affected by both individual socioeconomic factors as well as by community and county level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The relative contribution of each level was computed. Disparities in premature cardiovascular mortality were noted by individual race/ethnicity and education. Conclusions: In order to reduce premature cardiovascular mortality, we need to look at community and county socioeconomic conditions. These results may be used to develop new, socially grounded interventions for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this section, the participant will be able to: 1. Recognize the contribution of socioeconomic factors to heart disease mortality. 2. Construct a model to assess the relationship between social factors and heart disease mortality. 3. Discuss socially grounded interventions and policies aimed at reducing social inequalities in heart disease mortality
Keywords: Social Inequalities, Heart Disease
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.