Abstract 13852: Socioeconomic Status is Associated With Recurrent Cardiovascular Disease Events in People With Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Introduction: While low socioeconomic status (SES) is an established risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), there is scarce data regarding the association between SES and recurrent CVD events. Hypothesis: SES measures are associated with recurrent CVD events and mortality among those with prevalent CVD. Methods: We examined 3,031 individuals in the ARIC Study who developed CVD (either myocardial infarction [MI], heart failure [HF] or stroke) from the baseline visit (1987-1989) through 2013 to allow 5 years follow-up for recurrent CVD. SES was defined using baseline measures of income, education and area deprivation index (ADI), modeled individually and combined in a cumulative SES score. We used adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression to evaluate the associations of SES with composite and individual outcomes of first recurrent CVD and mortality. Results: Median age was 69 years, 49% were female, 29% Black. Over a median follow up of 4.6 years, 2,033 participants (67%) had a recurrent CVD event, and 2,202 (73%) died. Relative to the highest income group, being in the lowest income group was associated with higher risk for recurrent CVD (HR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07-1.51) and mortality (HR 1.32; 95% CI: 1.12-1.56) ( Table ). Similarly, less than high school education was associated with increased risk of recurrent CVD (HR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04-1.51) and mortality (HR 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01-1.45). No significant outcome associations were seen for ADI. Low cumulative SES was associated with approximately 20% higher risk of recurrent CVD, total mortality and the composite of recurrent CVD and mortality. Similar patterns were seen for individual subtypes of CVD, with the strongest SES-mortality associations for MI and stroke. Conclusions: In the high-risk group of individuals with existing CVD, low SES was linked to greater likelihood of recurrent CVD events and death. SES should be a focus in the design of secondary prevention efforts to improve outcomes in CVD.