Opinion
Video
Socioeconomic Factors Impacting Development of Cardiac Disease
Financial and geographic disparities contributing to elevated risk for heart disease are explored.
This is a video synopsis/summary of a panel discussion involving Robert Groves, MD; Eugene E. Wright Jr, MD; Nancy Albert, PhD, CCNS, CCRN, CHFN, NE-BC, FAHA, FCCM, FHFSA, FAAN; Nihar Desai, MD, MPH; and Kelly Marie Axsom, MD. The panel discusses socioeconomic factors impacting heart failure risk. Wright highlights social determinants like economic and income insecurity, food insecurity, transportation challenges, education levels, lived experiences, and psychosocial stress. Wright also highlights Individuals with lower incomes have higher cardiovascular disease risk due to increased stress hormones like catecholamines and cortisol. A person’s zip code might better predict their health than genetics.
Albert expands on the patient impact, explaining how limited income can reduce access to medications, transportation, and proper nutrition. Patients may live in food deserts without access to healthy options. Many are on fixed incomes and Medicare or Medicaid and cannot easily afford new treatments. Readmissions also financially penalize hospitals, influencing their care approaches to reduce overall readmission rates. The scope of heart failure is expanding, affecting more patients nationwide. In summary, this multifactorial disease has significant individual and societal impacts that require urgent attention.
Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by AJMC editorial staff.
