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US State-level income inequality and risks of heart attack and coronary risk behaviors: longitudinal findings.

ABSTRACT: To examine prospectively the association between US state income inequality and incidence of heart attack.We used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (n = 34,445). Respondents completed interviews at baseline (2001-2002) and follow-up (2004-2005). Weighted multilevel modeling was used to determine if US state-level income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) at baseline was a predictor of heart attack during follow-up, controlling for individual-level and state-level covariates.In comparison to residents of US states in the lowest quartile of income inequality, those living in the second [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.71, 95 % CI 1.16-2.53)], third (AOR = 1.81, 95 % CI 1.28-2.57), and fourth (AOR = 2.04, 95 % CI 1.26-3.29) quartiles were more likely to have a heart attack. Similar findings were obtained when we excluded those who had a heart attack prior to baseline.This study is one of the first to empirically show the longitudinal relationship between income inequality and coronary heart disease. Living in a state with higher income inequality increases the risk for heart attack among US adults.

SUBMITTER: Pabayo R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4517572 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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US State-level income inequality and risks of heart attack and coronary risk behaviors: longitudinal findings.

Pabayo Roman R Kawachi Ichiro I Gilman Stephen E SE

International journal of public health 20150516 5

<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine prospectively the association between US state income inequality and incidence of heart attack.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (n = 34,445). Respondents completed interviews at baseline (2001-2002) and follow-up (2004-2005). Weighted multilevel modeling was used to determine if US state-level income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) at baseline was a predictor of heart attack during fo ...[more]

PMID: 25981210

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Dataset Information

US State-level income inequality and risks of heart attack and coronary risk behaviors: longitudinal findings.

Publications

US State-level income inequality and risks of heart attack and coronary risk behaviors: longitudinal findings.

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