Implications of Social Disadvantage Score in Cardiovascular Outcomes and Risk Assessment: Findings From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

A recent study examined the impact of social determinants of health on cardiovascular outcomes. The researchers used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to create a Social Disadvantage Score (SDS) based on factors like income, education, living status, and discrimination experience. They found that higher SDS was associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and all-cause mortality, even after adjusting for traditional risk factors. However, incorporating SDS into existing cardiovascular risk assessment models did not significantly improve risk prediction. This suggests that while social factors play a role in cardiovascular health, they may not enhance current risk assessment methods.