RT Book, Section
A1 Atkinson, Holly G.
A2 Fuster, Valentin
A2 Harrington, Robert A.
A2 Narula, Jagat
A2 Eapen, Zubin J.
SR Print(0)
ID 1191189086
T1 SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
T2 Hurst's The Heart, 14e
YR 2017
FD 2017
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071843249
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1191189086
RD 2024/04/19
AB SummaryThis  chapter  discusses  the  social  determinants  of  cardiovascular  disease  (CVD)  that  operate  at  the  population  level.  Although  every  individual  is  affected  by  the  society  in  which  they  live,  some  are  more  burdened  than  others  by  social  and  economic  disadvantages,  which  in  turn  can  result  in  health  disparities.  The  major  social  determinants  of  health  include  socioeconomic  status,  race/ethnicity,  sex,  the  environment,  and  access  to  care.  Whilst  on  a  global  level,  CVD  is  considered  a  disease  of  affluence,  a  contrasting  gradient  of  CVD  prevalence  exists  within  developed  societies  (see  accompanying  Hurst’s  Central  Illustration);  thus,  as  countries  develop  economically,  the  disadvantaged  socioeconomic  position  progressively  becomes  a  systematic  risk  factor  for  CVD.  Racial  and  ethnic  minority  populations  are  disproportionally  burdened  with  cardiovascular  risk  factors  and  CVD;  socioeconomic  status  explains  some  portion  of  observed  health  disparities,  but  does  not  account  for  all  of  it.  Scientific  evidence  also  shows  that,  compared  with  men,  women  receive  less  treatment  for  both  cardiovascular  risk  factors  and  CVD,  and  have  increased  mortality  after  myocardial  infarction.  The  environment  in  which  an  individual  lives  impacts  on  cardiovascular  health:  lack  of  social  relationships,  living  in  disadvantaged  neighborhoods,  and  work  stress  are  all  associated  with  increased  risk  of  CVD.  Finally,  reduced  access  to  care  is  also  associated  with  increased  CVD  risk.  Policy  initiatives  are  critical  to  improving  health  outcomes  and  reducing  health  disparities.