Distribution of Cardiovascular Health by Individual- and Neighborhood-Level Socioeconomic Status: Findings From the Jackson Heart Study

Abstract Background Data demonstrate a positive relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and cardiovascular health (CVH). Objective To assess the association between individual- and neighborhood-level SES and CVH among participants of the JHS (Jackson Heart Study), a community-based cohort of African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi. Methods We included all JHS participants with complete SES and CVH information at the baseline study visit (n = 3,667). We characterized individual- and neighborhood-level SES according to income (primary analysis) and education (secondary analysis), respectively. The outcome of interest for these analyses was a CVH score, based on 7 modifiable behaviors and factors, summed to a total of 0 (worst) to 14 (best) points. We utilized generalized estimating equations to account for the clustering of participants within the same residential areas to estimate the linear association between SES and CVH. Results The median age of the participants was 55 years, and 64% were women. Nearly one-third of eligible participants had individual incomes Conclusions Our findings suggest a potential causal pathway for disparities in CVH among vulnerable populations. These data can be useful to the JHS community to empower public health and clinical interventions and policies for the improvement of CVH.