Prevention is an important strategy to reduce death and suffering from CVD.
It relies on managing risk factors and startingpreventive medicationsfor those with elevated risk.
Yet, inequities exist in CVDrates, risk factors,treatment, and prevention.
Jochen Tack / Getty Images
Jochen Tack / Getty Images
Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease does not affect all groups equally.
Race and Ethnicity
Race and ethnicity are socially constructed labels based on ancestral and cultural characteristics.
While some genetic factors are linked to ancestry, science makes it clear that race is not biological.
Some examples of these outcomes include:
Gender
Gender discrepancies in CVD are also prevalent.
Geography
Within the United States, disparities also exist based on geography.
These disparities can be regionally-based, or exist based on rural vs. urban environments.
Disparities in CVD Risk Factors
Health disparities also exist for individual CVD risk factors.
Diabetes
Diabetesis another common risk factor for CVD.
Rates of diabetes and level of blood sugar control are worse in certain groups.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterolis a major CVD risk factor that affects groups unequally.
Furthermore, some groups are less likely to receive appropriate therapies to control cholesterol numbers.
The following are just some of the issues that contribute.
Further, members of some socially stigmatized groups distrust the healthcare system.
This is in part due to historic and current racist, sexist, cisgender normative, and heteronormative practices.
What Can Be Done?
Fortunately, the scientific community is more aware of health disparities.
More research is being done on this topic, with goals being set to improve healthcare equity.
The first step of CVD prevention is awareness of increased risk.
When risk is high, a statin is indicated.
Those with borderline or intermediate risk may benefit from a statin, depending on other factors.
What Are Statins?
Statinsare drugs that improve cholesterol and have anti-inflammatory effects.
This is in part due to differences in CVD risk factors and prevention.
Social determinants of health are responsible for many of these inequalities.
It’s also important to play an active role in CVD prevention in areas that you could control.
Understanding and following treatment plans for CVD and its prevention are essential.
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