Abstract 14868: Association Between Social Vulnerability Index and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Among New York State Counties

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and poses a significant economic burden in the USA. Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess social vulnerability to disasters. The relationship between SVI and CVD outcomes in New York State (NYS) has not been explored. Our aim is to examine the association between county-level SVI and CVD hospitalization and mortality rates in NYS. Methods: Hospitalization and mortality rates for CVD and its subtypes (heart diseases, coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and stroke) between 2016 and 2018 were obtained from the NYS Community Health Indicator Reports. The SVI is based on 4 subindices: Socioeconomic Status, Household Composition & Disability, Minority Status & Language, and Housing Type & Transportation. Higher SVI indicates greater vulnerability. We examined the CDC SVI 2018 data for NYS. The associations between CVD and its subtypes outcomes and SVI and its 4 subindices were analyzed by negative binomial regression. Results: Among counties, Bronx had the highest SVI (most vulnerable) and Saratoga had the lowest SVI (least vulnerable). Counties with higher SVI were associated with worse CVD outcomes. (hospitalization, incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.205 [95%CI: 1.035-1.402], per 1-unit increase; mortality, 1.201 [1.093-1.320]). Regarding the 4 subindices, Socioeconomic Status and Household Composition & Disability were independently associated with CVD mortality (1.137 [1.000-1.292] and 1.201 [1.066-1.354]). Minority Status & Language was independently associated with CVD hospitalization. (1.344 [1.130-1.599]).There was no association between Housing Type & Transportation and CVD outcomes. Conclusions: County-level SVI was associated with CVD outcomes in NYS. This underscores the need for improved prevention strategies and targeted interventions for CVD in vulnerable areas.