Abstract P231: The Impact Of Intelligence In Youth On Cardiovascular Diseases Among 54-61 Years Old Americans

Abstract

Introduction: The association between intelligence measured in youth and all cause-mortality has been previously established, where people with lower intelligence had a higher mortality risk. Few studies have looked at the relationship between intelligence and CVD morbidity. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that higher intelligence in youth is associated with lower odds of CVD adjusting for the social determinants of health. Methods: Our sample population consisted of 9,964 men and women who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and responded to the 2018 survey (round 28). The intelligence was measured when participants were around 15 to 23 years of age using the Armed Forces Qualification Test and was scored as a percentile and z-scored. CVDs were measured as self-reports of a doctor ever diagnosing hypertension, myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, ischemic stroke, or general heart problems in 54-61 years old Americans. Crude and adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, highest grade of education completed, and total net family income logistic regression models were used to test the association between intelligence and CVD. Results: Conclusions: In conclusion, the current findings suggest that higher intelligence may be a protective factor against CVD. Previous associations in populations younger than ours were attenuated, suggesting that the relationship may no longer exist when including older Americans. However, identifying the most vulnerable groups as priority areas for reducing CVD morbidities is key to reducing impact and promoting health equity. The data from this study can inform health and social policies, which can help reduce the burden of CVD. Public health efforts that account for variation and contribution of intelligence, as well as social determinants of health, are needed to reduce CVD and its risk factors.