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People with less education and lower incomes are much more likely to develop heart disease than those who are wealthier or better educated, according to a recent study.

“Being poor or having less than a high school education can be regarded as an extra risk when assessing a patient’s chances of developing cardiovascular disease,” says lead researcher Peter Franks, a professor of family and community medicine at the University of California, Davis. “People with low socioeconomic status need to have their heart-disease indicators managed more aggressively.”

According to Franks, although it is known that people with low socioeconomic status have a greater risk for developing heart disease and other health problems, the reason is often attributed to reduced health-care access or poor adherence to treatments such as smoking cessation or medication. This study showed for the first time that the increased risk endured despite long-term improvements in other risk factors, indicating that access and adherence could not account for the differences.

Full story at Futurity.

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