Abreu TC, Mackenbach JD, Heuvelman F, Schoonmade LJ, Beulens JW. Associations between dimensions of the social environment and cardiometabolic risk factors: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
SSM Popul Health 2024;
25:101559. [PMID:
38148999 PMCID:
PMC10749911 DOI:
10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101559]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim
The social environment (SE), including social contacts, norms and support, is an understudied element of the living environment which impacts health. We aim to comprehensively summarize the evidence on the association between the SE and risk factors of cardiometabolic disease (CMD).
Methods
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on studies published in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection from inception to 16 February 2021. Studies that used a risk factor of CMD, e.g., HbA1c or blood pressure, as outcome and social environmental factors such as area-level deprivation or social network size as independent variables were included. Titles and abstracts were screened in duplicate. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data appraisal and extraction were based on the study protocol published in PROSPERO. Data were synthesized through vote counting and meta-analyses.
Results
From the 7521 records screened, 168 studies reported 1050 associations were included in this review. Four meta-analyses based on 24 associations suggested that an unfavorable social environment was associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic risk factors, with three of them being statistically significant. For example, individuals that experienced more economic and social disadvantage had a higher "CVD risk scores" (OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.35 to 1.84). Of the 458 associations included in the vote counting, 323 (71%) pointed towards unfavorable social environments being associated with higher CMD risk.
Conclusion
Higher economic and social disadvantage seem to contribute to unfavorable CMD risk factor profiles, while evidence for other dimensions of the social environment is limited.
Collapse