Effect of socioeconomic deprivation on the population risk of incident heart failure hospitalisation: an analysis of the Renfrew/Paisley Study.
BACKGROUND
There are few data describing the effect of socioeconomic deprivation on the risk of developing heart failure (HF).


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and hospitalisation with HF over 20 years.


METHODS
Between 1972 and 1976, 15,402 individuals, aged 45-64 years, residing in two towns in Scotland, underwent cardiovascular screening. We report hospitalisations with HF over the subsequent 20 years according to Carstairs deprivation category and Social Class.


RESULTS
Following screening, 628 men and women (4.1%) were hospitalised with a primary diagnosis of HF. There was a gradient in the risk of HF hospitalisation with increasing socioeconomic deprivation (P=0.003). Of the most deprived individuals, 6.4% were hospitalised for HF compared to 3.5% of the most affluent group. Cox-proportional Hazard models showed that independent of age, sex and baseline risk factors for cardio-respiratory status, greater socioeconomic deprivation increased the risk of HF admission (P<0.001, overall). The adjusted risk of admission for HF was 39% greater in the most versus least deprived subjects (RR 1.39 95% CI 1.04-2.01; P=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
These data show a link between social deprivation and the risk of developing HF, irrespective of baseline cardio-respiratory status and cardiovascular risk factors.
Stewart
S
S
Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.
Murphy
N F
NF
McMurray
J J V
JJ
Jhund
P
P
Hart
C L
CL
Hole
D
D
D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011153:Population; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class