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The state we live in is linked to many things that help to define us – how we talk, what slang terminology we use and even, perhaps, our driving habits. But new research findings show that a state’s wealth or poverty may also be linked to a women’s level of cardiovascular inflammation, a key risk factor for heart disease.
“We have been learning that geography matters for heart disease risk,” said Cheryl Clark, MD, ScD, director of Health Equity Research and Intervention in the Center for Community Health and Health Equity. “Our study suggests that state-level resources may contribute to early risk factors for heart disease in women.”
Researchers examined each state’s gross domestic product, poverty rate and level of financial inequality. They compared those factors to biomarkers of cardiovascular inflammation in women who took part in the Women’s Health Study. The data showed that women who live in wealthy states, such as California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, have lower levels of cardiovascular inflammation than women in less wealthy states, including West Virginia and Arkansas.
“We also found that women who live in states with higher levels of financial inequality have higher levels of cardiovascular inflammation than women in states with lower equality,” Clark said.
Even when an individual woman’s diet, weight, personal income level, exercise and smoking habits were taken into account, the wealth of their home state still significantly affected their level of cardiovascular inflammation. The study does not prove that state wealth or inequality causes cardiovascular inflammation, but does suggest a link.
Clark noted that further research is needed to examine the reasons behind this disparity. This research, which was published March 20 in the online edition of BMC Public Health, was supported by an NIH National Institute of Aging grant.