Abstract 15192: Neighborhood Social Vulnerability Predicts Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Through Pro-Inflammatory Risk Factors

Abstract

Introduction: Emerging evidence suggests that neighborhood adverse characteristics are linked to nationwide disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. However, it is unclear if this association is linked to disease progression and outcomes in people with established CVD. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that in patients with CVD, neighborhood social adversity, measured as social vulnerability index (SVI) predicts incident cardiovascular events at least partly through pro-inflammatory. Methods: A total of 4150 participants enrolled in the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank, residential addresses were geocoded according to the census tract and SVI was determined using the Center for Disease Control data. Serum hs-C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured during enrollment and participants were followed up for incident myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular death. Subdistribution hazard models were used to investigate the association between SVI and the study endpoint. A mediation analysis was performed to evaluate whether hsCRP levels underly this association. Results: Mean age was 63 years, 24% Black, and 64% were women. During a median 5 year follow-up, there were 904 (22%) adverse events. SVI and hsCRP were correlated (r=0.12, P<0.001). After adjustment for age, race, sex,hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, prior MI, prior heart failure, renal function, smoking, statin and aspirin use, participants in the highest SVI quartile (most socially vulnerable), had a 31% (95%CI, 4%,64%) higher risk of CV death/MI compared to those in the lowest quartile. The risk was attenuated and became insignificant after adjusting for the hsCRP 23% (CI -3%, 54%). Serum hsCRP levels mediated 61% of the association between SVI and adverse events. Conclusions: Neighborhood social vulnerability is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes in CVD, that is at least in part mediated through increased systemic inflammation. Neighborhood social vulnerability may explain some of the residual risk observed in patients with CVD.