Study Links Early Pregnancy Socioeconomic Status to Long-Term Heart Health Disparities

A groundbreaking study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024 has uncovered a strong connection between socioeconomic status during early pregnancy and long-term cardiovascular health disparities among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The research, which examined data from over 4,000 first-time mothers, found that socioeconomic factors were responsible for more than half of the differences in heart health scores between Black, Hispanic, and white women up to seven years after giving birth.

The study, conducted by researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, analyzed various social determinants of health, including education level, income, health insurance status, and health literacy. Using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 metrics, researchers calculated cardiovascular health scores for participants two to seven years after delivery.

Results showed that after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors, white mothers had an average cardiovascular health score 12.2 points higher than Black mothers and 3.3 points higher than Hispanic mothers. However, when socioeconomic data for Black women was adjusted to match their white counterparts, their cardiovascular health score increased by 6.6 points, effectively eliminating more than 50% of the health disparity. For Hispanic women, a similar adjustment completely erased the gap in cardiovascular health scores compared to white women.

These findings underscore the critical role of socioeconomic factors in shaping long-term maternal health outcomes and highlight the urgent need for policies addressing structural inequities in healthcare access and economic opportunities. The research supports recent efforts to expand Medicaid coverage for postpartum individuals from 60 days to one year after birth, a measure now adopted by 47 states and the District of Columbia.

Dr. Xiaoning "Jack" Huang, the study's lead author, emphasized the importance of enhancing healthcare accessibility and affordability for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. "The scientific community has produced clear evidence highlighting the critical importance of social determinants of health, including economic opportunities and accessible, affordable health insurance," Huang stated.

The study's results come at a crucial time, as the United States faces a rising maternal mortality rate, particularly among Black women. Dr. Vesna D. Garovic, an American Heart Association volunteer expert, stressed the need for public health policies that address the impact of structural racism on maternal health and healthcare in the United States.

While the observational nature of the study limits its ability to establish direct cause and effect, the findings provide compelling evidence for the need to address socioeconomic disparities as a means of improving maternal cardiovascular health. As the medical community continues to grapple with persistent racial and ethnic health disparities, this research offers valuable insights into potential interventions and policy directions that could help reduce these inequities and improve long-term health outcomes for mothers across all demographic groups.