A recent study sheds light on how social factors affect heart health. Published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the research shows that financial strain and food insecurity are significant contributors to accelerated heart aging and a higher risk of death. This highlights the need to understand these social issues when addressing heart disease.
By 2050, the number of Americans over 65 is projected to reach 82 million, making up 23% of the population. As life expectancy increases, so does the burden of chronic diseases in older adults. The healthcare system is shifting its focus toward healthier aging and better quality of life.
Dr. Amir Lerman from the Mayo Clinic states, “Our research shows that traditional risk factors alone do not fully explain heart disease. There are social factors we often overlook that can influence biological aging.” His team studied over 280,000 adult patients at the Mayo Clinic from 2018 to 2023. They used a questionnaire to assess various social determinants of health (SDoH), such as stress, housing, and nutrition. They measured cardiac age using an AI-enabled electrocardiogram (AI-ECG), a new tool that offers insights into heart health regardless of a person’s actual age.
A key finding is the concept of the “cardiac age gap.” This occurs when a person’s heart is biologically older than their actual age. A wider cardiac age gap may indicate an increased risk for heart disease. The study emphasizes that financial issues, housing problems, and lack of physical activity can contribute to this gap just as much as traditional medical risk factors do.
Some highlights from the study include:
- Social factors are more influential in cardiac aging than traditional clinical risk factors.
- Financial strain and food insecurity ranked as the top concerns across demographics.
- Issues like housing insecurity and inactivity were significant predictors of mortality risk.
Dr. Lerman emphasizes the importance of addressing these social determinants in healthcare. By targeting these issues, doctors can better support patients in managing heart health.
This study opens up new avenues for research and intervention. By considering social determinants alongside medical histories, healthcare providers can offer more comprehensive care.
For those interested in a deeper dive, you can find the study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings here.
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Food, Heart, Aging, Cardiovascular Disease, Mortality
