Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

An increasing number of studies have shown the impact of social determinants of health (SDoHs) on different cardiovascular outcomes. SDoHs influence the regional incidence of heart failure, heart failure outcomes, and heart failure readmission rates; can prevent use of advanced heart failure therapies in minorities with an indication for their use; can influence the incidence of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease outcomes; and can also prevent providing equal quality of care to all patients with myocardial infarction. In the setting of arrhythmias, specific SDoHs can increase the incidence of atrial fibrillation and adversely affect major outcomes in these patients. In congenital heart diseases, SDoHs can affect major outcomes, as well. In conclusion, SDoHs significantly impact cardiovascular morbidity and death and specific outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease. Policy measures that aim to improve those SDoHs that negatively affect health outcomes hold promise for improving cardiovascular outcomes at individual and population levels.