AUTHOR=Ptushkina Violetta , Jacobs Esther , Maier Werner , Schipf Sabine , Völzke Henry , Markus Marcello R., Nauck Matthias , Meisinger Christa , Peters Annette , Herder Christian , Schwettmann Lars , Dörr Marcus , Felix Stephan , Roden Michael , Rathmann Wolfgang
TITLE=Educational Level, but Not Income or Area Deprivation, is Related to Macrovascular Disease: Results From Two Population-Based Cohorts in Germany
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
VOLUME=66
YEAR=2021
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2021.633909
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2021.633909
ISSN=1661-8564
ABSTRACT=Objectives: An inverse relationship between education and cardiovascular risk has been described, however, the combined association of education, income, and neighborhood socioeconomic status with macrovascular disease is less clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of educational level, equivalent household income and area deprivation with macrovascular disease in Germany.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from two representative German population-based studies, SHIP-TREND (n = 3,731) and KORA-F4 (n = 2,870), were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between socioeconomic determinants and macrovascular disease (defined as self-reported myocardial infarction or stroke).
Results: The study showed a higher odds of prevalent macrovascular disease in men with low and middle educational level compared to men with high education. Area deprivation and equivalent income were not related to myocardial infarction or stroke in any of the models.
Conclusion: Educational level, but not income or area deprivation, is significantly related to the macrovascular disease in men. Effective prevention of macrovascular disease should therefore start with investing in individual education.