People living in areas with high rates of environmental and socio-economic problems are at higher risk of heart disease and can double their risk of stroke, a new study has found.

The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that a combination of chronic environmental and social problems, such as environmental pollution and rising unemployment rates, are contributing to widening disparities in cardiovascular health, and that environmental It turns out that only one factor plays an important role.

“Our study is one of the first to examine the combined effects of both social and environmental factors and examine the complex interactions between them,” said lead author Sarju Ganatra. said in a news release. Ganatra, a cardiologist, is associate director of research medicine and director of the cardio-oncology program and the South Asia cardiometabolic program at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Recent studies have shown that areas with greater social and environmental disadvantage have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. In this new study, researchers wanted to investigate the extent to which environmental factors play a role, either alone or in combination with socio-economic factors.

The study found that environmental disadvantages included air and water pollution, the presence of potentially dangerous or harmful sites, a lack of recreational parks, high road traffic, and the presence of railways and airports. It was done. Social factors include racial and ethnic minority status, income, education and employment levels, housing status, and access to the Internet and health care.

The analysis found that people living in the most environmentally and socially vulnerable areas were 1.68 times more likely to have coronary heart disease and more than twice as likely to have a stroke than people living in the most vulnerable areas. found. People in the most vulnerable regions also had higher rates of type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension and obesity.

“We were surprised to find that social and environmental factors are closely linked and interact in complex ways in health outcomes,” Ganatra said. “We were able to demonstrate their ‘dual influence’ on health outcomes. And more than that, even after controlling for socio-economic factors, environmental factors play a role in different heart disease outcomes. We were even more surprised by the fact that it plays an important and independent role in determining other related diseases’ health outcomes. “

Those living in the most environmentally and socially vulnerable areas have the highest proportions of black and Hispanic adults (30% and 48%, respectively), and racial and ethnic minorities in the most vulnerable areas. had the lowest percentages (5% and 11%). .

Ganatra said researchers believe that reversing the effects of environmental and socio-economic disadvantage can be done by reducing exposure to air pollution, reducing poverty, urban renewal, public education, job creation and affordable housing. He said he believed a multifaceted approach would be needed, including establishing policies to deal with the situation. Access to quality health care.

“Our goal is to help the medical community better inform patients about the environmental factors they encounter every day,” he said. “Patients will gain the ability to reduce their exposure to harmful environmental conditions, including exposure to harmful chemicals and air pollutants, to minimize harm and reduce health risks.”