A new study has found that people from low-income backgrounds have a significantly higher risk of dying from a heart attack compared to those from more affluent backgrounds in six world health systems. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and published in the journal The Lancet Public Health.
The study analyzed data from over 1 million patients who had been admitted to hospital with a heart attack in six different health systems: the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Japan. The researchers found that people from low-income backgrounds had a 23% higher risk of dying from a heart attack compared to those from more affluent backgrounds.
The study also found that this increased risk persisted even after taking into account other factors that can affect heart attack outcomes, such as age, sex, and the severity of the heart attack. This suggests that social factors such as income and education may be important determinants of heart attack outcomes.
The reasons for this disparity in heart attack outcomes are not fully understood, but the study suggests that several factors may be involved. People from low-income backgrounds are more likely to have other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart attack. They may also have limited access to healthcare and be less likely to receive timely and effective treatment for a heart attack.
The study's lead author, Dr. Chris Gale, a consultant cardiologist and associate professor at the University of Leeds, said: "Our findings highlight the need to address the social determinants of health that lead to poorer outcomes for those from low-income backgrounds. This includes addressing the wider factors that influence health such as access to healthcare, education, and housing."
The study's findings have important implications for policymakers and healthcare providers, who need to consider the social determinants of health when developing policies and programs to improve heart attack outcomes. This may involve targeted interventions to improve access to healthcare and other social services for people from low-income backgrounds.
In conclusion, this study provides important new evidence on the link between income and heart attack outcomes in six different world health systems. It highlights the need to address the social determinants of health in order to reduce the inequality in health outcomes that exists between people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. By addressing these wider social factors, policymakers and healthcare providers can help to improve heart attack outcomes and promote better health for all.
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