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Research reveals environmental and social divide in heart disease risk
The study found how income levels, educational level, and access to healthcare can increase the risk
Representative Image / Unsplash
A new study by Indian American researcher, Sarju Ganatra, sheds light on the impact of social and environmental factors on heart disease and stroke risks.
A cardiologist and vice chair in the department of medicine, Lahey Hospital, Ganatra’s study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. According to the findings, individuals residing in areas with higher pollution, toxic sites, and limited recreational spaces faced twice the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
The study, conducted at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, delved into the relationship between neighborhood adversity and cardiovascular health. Ganatra and his team analyzed the data from the US Census Bureau, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Their findings highlighted the role of social factors that made the person vulnerable to the risk. Some of the social factors included income levels, educational level, and access to healthcare. Ganatra added that even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, cardiovascular health was dependent on environmental disadvantages.
He said, “I was amazed to see the tight links and complex interplay between social and environmental factors on health outcomes. We were able to demonstrate their ‘dual hit’ on health outcomes. And beyond that, we were more amazed by the fact that even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, environmental factors played a crucial and independent role in determining various heart disease and other related health outcomes.”
Residents living in environmentally vulnerable neighborhoods exhibited higher rates of blocked arteries, strokes, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Certain demographic groups bore the burden more, with young adults and minority populations being at greater risk due to their residence.
To mitigate the impact of the social and environmental disadvantages, Ganatra advocates for a multifaceted approach. He stated, “Our aim is to empower the health care community to better inform patients about environmental factors they encounter daily. Patients, in turn, gain the ability to reduce their exposure to harmful environmental conditions, such as exposure to harmful chemicals and air pollutants to minimize health hazards and mitigate health risks.”
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