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Bann D, Wright L, Hughes A, Chaturvedi N. Socioeconomic inequalities in cardiovascular disease: a causal perspective. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:238-249. [PMID: 37821646 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00941-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Socioeconomic inequalities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) persist in high-income countries despite marked overall declines in CVD-related morbidity and mortality. After decades of research, the field has struggled to unequivocally answer a crucial question: is the association between low socioeconomic position (SEP) and the development of CVD causal? We review relevant evidence from various study designs and disciplinary perspectives. Traditional observational, family-based and Mendelian randomization studies support the widely accepted view that low SEP causally influences CVD. However, results from quasi-experimental and experimental studies are both limited and equivocal. While more experimental and quasi-experimental studies are needed to aid causal understanding and inform policy, high-quality descriptive studies are also required to document inequalities, investigate their contextual dependence and consider SEP throughout the lifespan; no simple hierarchy of evidence exists for an exposure as complex as SEP. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the context-dependent nature of CVD inequalities, with the generation of potentially new causal pathways linking SEP and CVD. The linked goals of understanding the causal nature of SEP and CVD associations, their contextual dependence, and their remediation by policy interventions necessitate a detailed understanding of society, its change over time and the phenotypes of CVD. Interdisciplinary research is therefore key to advancing both causal understanding and policy translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bann
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Liam Wright
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alun Hughes
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL, Department of Population Science and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nish Chaturvedi
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL, Department of Population Science and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Science, University College London, London, UK
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Cardiovascular disease risk in people with severe mental disorders: an update and call for action. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2022; 35:277-284. [PMID: 35781467 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of premature death in people with severe mental disorders (SMDs). This review provides an update on the level of CVD mortality and morbidity, as well as the socioeconomic, psychosocial and genetic factors associated with the comorbidity, and offer directions for improved interventions to reduce CVD in SMDs. RECENT FINDINGS The level of CVD mortality and morbidity has sustained high in people with SMDs during the past decades, but the causal mechanism must be further elucidated. Psychosocial and socioeconomic challenges are frequent in SMDs as well as in CVD. Further, recent studies have revealed genetic variants jointly associated with SMDs, CVD risk and social factors. These findings highlight the need for more targeted interventions, prediction tools and psychosocial approaches to comorbid CVD in SMDs. SUMMARY The level of CVD comorbidity remains high in SMDs, indicating that most people with SMDs have not benefitted from recent medical advances. A complex interplay between genetic and social vulnerability to CVD, which differs across subgroups of patients, seems to be involved. Further research is required to meet the urgent need for earlier, more efficient intervention approaches and preventive strategies for comorbid CVD in SMD.
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Tesli M, Degerud E, Plana‐Ripoll O, Gustavson K, Torvik FA, Ystrom E, Ask H, Tesli N, Høye A, Stoltenberg C, Reichborn‐Kjennerud T, Nesvåg R, Næss Ø. Educational attainment and mortality in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2022; 145:481-493. [PMID: 35152418 PMCID: PMC9305099 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals suffering from schizophrenia have a reduced life expectancy with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a major contributor. Low educational attainment is associated with schizophrenia, as well as with all-cause and CVD mortality. However, it is unknown to what extent low educational attainment can explain the increased mortality in individuals with schizophrenia. AIM Here, we quantify associations between educational attainment and all-cause and CVD mortality in individuals with schizophrenia, and compare them with the corresponding associations in the general population. METHOD All Norwegian citizens born between January 1, 1925, and December 31, 1959, were followed up from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2014. The total sample included 1,852,113 individuals, of which 6548 were registered with schizophrenia. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause and CVD mortality with Cox models, in addition to life years lost. Educational attainment for index persons and their parents were included in the models. RESULTS In the general population individuals with low educational attainment had higher risk of all-cause (HR: 1.48 [95% CI: 1.47-1.49]) and CVD (HR: 1.59 [95% CI: 1.57-1.61]) mortality. In individuals with schizophrenia these estimates were substantially lower (all-cause: HR: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.05-1.21] and CVD: HR: 1.12 [95% CI: 0.98-1.27]). Low educational attainment accounted for 3.28 (3.21-3.35) life years lost in males and 2.48 (2.42-2.55) years in females in the general population, but was not significantly associated with life years lost in individuals with schizophrenia. Results were similar for parental educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that while individuals with schizophrenia in general have lower educational attainment and higher mortality rates compared with the general population, the association between educational attainment and mortality is smaller in schizophrenia subjects than in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Tesli
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | | | - Oleguer Plana‐Ripoll
- Department of Economics and Business EconomicsNational Centre for Register‐Based ResearchAarhus UniversityAarhus VDenmark,Department of Clinical EpidemiologyAarhus University and Aarhus University HospitalAarhus NDenmark
| | - Kristin Gustavson
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Fartein Ask Torvik
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway,PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research GroupSchool of PharmacyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Helga Ask
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
| | - Natalia Tesli
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Anne Høye
- Division of Mental Health and Substance AbuseUniversity Hospital of North NorwayTromsøNorway,Department of Clinical MedicineThe Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Camilla Stoltenberg
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Department of Global Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Ted Reichborn‐Kjennerud
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Øyvind Næss
- Norwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway,Institute of Health and SocietyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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Falkentoft AC, Andersen J, Malik ME, Selmer C, Gæde PH, Staehr PB, Hlatky MA, Fosbøl E, Køber L, Torp-Pedersen C, Gislason GH, Gerds TA, Schou M, Bruun NE, Ruwald AC. Impact of socioeconomic position on initiation of SGLT-2 inhibitors or GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes – a Danish nationwide observational study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2022; 14:100308. [PMID: 35146474 PMCID: PMC8802041 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Low socioeconomic position may affect initiation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and glucacon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We examined the association between socioeconomic position and initiation of SGLT-2i or GLP-1RA in patients with T2D at time of first intensification of antidiabetic treatment. Methods Through nationwide registers, we identified all Danish patients on metformin who initiated second-line add-on therapy between December 10, 2012, and December 31, 2020. For each time period (2012-2014, 2015-2017, and 2018-2020), we used multivariable multinomial logistic regression to associate disposable income, as proxy for socioeconomic position, with the probability of initiating a specific second-line treatment at time of first intensification. We reported probabilities standardised to the distribution of demographics and comorbidities of patients included in the last period (2018-2020). Findings We included 48915 patients (median age 62 years; 61·7% men). In each time period, high-income patients were more often men and had less comorbidities as compared with low income-patients. In each time period, the standardised probability of initiating a SGLT-2i or a GLP-1RA was significantly higher in the highest income group compared with the lowest: 11·4% vs. 9·5% (probability ratio [PR] 1·21, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1·01-1·44) in 2012-2014; 22·6% vs. 19.6% (PR 1·15, CI 1·05-1·27) in 2015-2017; and 65·8% vs. 54·8% (PR 1·20, CI 1·16-1·24) in 2018-2020. The differences by income were consistent across multiple subgroups. Interpretation Despite a universal healthcare system, low socioeconomic position was consistently associated with a lower probability of initiating a SGLT-2i or a GLP-1RA. These disparities may widen the future socioeconomic gap in cardiovascular outcomes. Funding The work was funded by unrestricted grants from ‘Region Sjaelland Den Sundhedsvidenskabelige Forskningsfond’ and ‘Murermester Lauritz Peter Christensen og hustru Kirsten Sigrid Christensens Fond’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C. Falkentoft
- Department of Cardiology, Zealand University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Denmark
- Address for corresponding author: Alexander Christian Falkentoft, Department of Cardiology, Zealand University Hospital, Sygehusvej 10, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark, Tel.: +45 50908969.
| | | | - Mariam Elmegaard Malik
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Christian Selmer
- Department of Endocrinology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Mark A. Hlatky
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford California, USA
| | - Emil Fosbøl
- Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Køber
- Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Torp-Pedersen
- Department of Cardiology, Nordsjaellands Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Gunnar H. Gislason
- The Danish Heart Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Thomas Alexander Gerds
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
- Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Schou
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Niels E. Bruun
- Department of Cardiology, Zealand University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical medicine, Copenhagen University, and Clinical Institute, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Anne-Christine Ruwald
- Department of Cardiology, Zealand University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
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Dahlqwist E, Kutalik Z, Sjölander A. Using instrumental variables to estimate the attributable fraction. Stat Methods Med Res 2019; 29:2063-2073. [PMID: 31640504 DOI: 10.1177/0962280219879175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to design efficient interventions aimed to improve public health, policy makers need to be provided with reliable information of the health burden of different risk factors. For this purpose, we are interested in the proportion of cases that could be prevented had some harmful exposure been eliminated from the population, i.e. the attributable fraction. The attributable fraction is a causal measure; thus, to estimate the attributable fraction from observational data, we have to make appropriate adjustment for confounding. However, some confounders may be unobserved, or even unknown to the investigator. A possible solution to this problem is to use instrumental variable analysis. In this work, we present how the attributable fraction can be estimated with instrumental variable methods based on the two-stage estimator or the G-estimator. One situation when the problem of unmeasuredconfounding may be particularly severe is when assessing the effect of low educational qualifications on coronary heart disease. By using Mendelian randomization, a special case of instrumental variable analysis, it has been claimed that low educational qualifications is a causal risk factor for coronary heart disease. We use Mendelian randomization to estimate the causal risk ratio and causal odds ratio of low educational qualifications as a risk factor for coronary heart disease with data from the UK Biobank. We compare the two-stage and G-estimator as well as the attributable fraction based on the two estimators. The plausibility of drawing causal conclusion in this analysis is thoroughly discussed and alternative genetic instrumental variables are tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Dahlqwist
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zoltán Kutalik
- University Center for Primary Care and Public Health, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Arvid Sjölander
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Masi S, Taddei S, Virdis A. Investing in your arteries by spending more time in education. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019; 26:1092-1095. [DOI: 10.1177/2047487319831156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Masi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University di Pisa, Italy
- The National Centre for Cardiovascular Preventions and Outcomes, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, UK
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, UK
| | - Stefano Taddei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University di Pisa, Italy
| | - Agostino Virdis
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University di Pisa, Italy
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Søndergaard G, Dalton SO, Mortensen LH, Osler M. Educational inequality in cardiovascular diseases: a sibling approach. Scand J Public Health 2017; 46:83-91. [PMID: 28992724 DOI: 10.1177/1403494817734775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Educational inequality in diseases in the circulatory system (here termed cardiovascular disease) is well documented but may be confounded by early life factors. The aim of this observational study was to examine whether the associations between education and all cardiovascular diseases, ischaemic heart disease and stroke, respectively, were explained by family factors shared by siblings. METHODS The study population included all individuals born in Denmark between 1950 and 1979 who had at least one full sibling born in the same period. Using Cox regression, data were analysed in conventional cohort and within-sibship analyses in which the association was examined within siblings discordant on education. Assuming that attenuation of associations in the within-sibship as compared with the cohort analyses would indicate confounding from factors shared within families. RESULTS A lower educational status was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease and stroke. All associations attenuated in the within-sibship analyses, in particular in the analyses on ischaemic heart disease before age 45 years. For instance, in the cohort analyses, the hazard rate of ischaemic heart disease among women less than 45 years who had a primary school education was 94% (hazard ratio 1.94 (1.78-2.12) higher than among those with a vocational education, while it attenuated to 51% (hazard ratio 1.51 (1.34-1.71)) in the within-sibship analysis. CONCLUSIONS Confounding from factors shared by siblings explained the associations between education and the cardiovascular disease outcomes but to varying degrees. This should be taken into account when planning interventions aimed at reducing educational inequalities in the development of cardiovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grethe Søndergaard
- 1 Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Denmark
| | | | | | - Merete Osler
- 1 Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Denmark
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Kjøllesdal MKR, Ariansen I, Mortensen LH, Næss Ø. The importance of early life family factors in the association between cardiovascular risk factors and early cardiovascular mortality. Open Heart 2017; 4:e000608. [PMID: 28878947 PMCID: PMC5574457 DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2017-000608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the importance of early life factors shared by siblings, such as parental socioeconomic position, parental practices, housing and neighbourhood, for the association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and mortality from CVD, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease. Methods Norwegian health surveys (1974–2003) were linked with data from the Norwegian Family Based Life Course Study and the Cause of Death Registry. Participants with at least one full sibling among survey participants (n=2 71 643) were included. Data on CVD risk factors, body mass index (BMI), height, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and total cholesterol (TC) were stratified into ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ risk, and smoking to ‘daily smoking’ and ‘not daily smoking’. Results Mean age of participants was 41 years, mean follow-up time was 19 years and during follow-up 2512 died from CVD. For each category of increased risk factor level, the per step HR of CVD mortality was increased by 1.91 (95% CI 1.78 to 2.05) for SBP, 1.67 (1.58 to 1.76) for TC, 1.44 (1.36 to 1.53) for BMI, 1.26 (1.18 to 1.35) for height and 2.89 (2.66 to 3.14) for smoking. In analyses where each sibship (groups of full siblings) had a group-specific baseline hazard, these associations were attenuated to 1.74, 1.51, 1.29, 1.18 and 2.63, respectively. The associations between risk factors and IHD mortality followed the same pattern. Conclusion Early life family factors explained a small part of the association between risk factors and mortality from CVD and IHD in a relatively young sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marte K R Kjøllesdal
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Ariansen
- Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Laust H Mortensen
- Department of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Øyvind Næss
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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