title: Cardiovascular inflammation in healthy women: multilevel associations with state-level prosperity, productivity and income inequality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular inflammation is a key contributor to the development of atherosclerosis and the prediction of cardiovascular events among healthy women. An emerging literature suggests biomarkers of inflammation vary by geography of residence at the state-level, and are associated with individual-level socioeconomic status. Associations between cardiovascular inflammation and state-level socioeconomic conditions have not been evaluated. The study objective is to estimate whether there are independent associations between state-level socioeconomic conditions and individual-level biomarkers of inflammation, in excess of individual-level income and clinical covariates among healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors examined cross-sectional multilevel associations among state-level socioeconomic conditions, individual-level income, and biomarkers of inflammation among women (n = 26,029) in the Women's Health Study, a nation-wide cohort of healthy women free of cardiovascular diseases at enrollment. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and fibrinogen were measured between 1993 and 1996. Biomarker levels were examined among women within quartiles of state-level socioeconomic conditions and within categories of individual-level income.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors found that favorable state-level socioeconomic conditions were correlated with lower hsCRP, in excess of individual-level income (e.g. state-level real per capital gross domestic product fixed effect standardized Βeta coefficient [Std B] -0.03, 95% CI -0.05, -0.004). Individual-level income was more closely associated with sICAM-1 (Std B -0.04, 95% CI -0.06, -0.03) and fibrinogen (Std B -0.05, 95% CI -0.06, -0.03) than state-level conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found associations between state-level socioeconomic conditions and hsCRP among healthy women. Personal household income was more closely associated with sICAM-1 and fibrinogen than state-level socioeconomic conditions. Additional research should examine these associations in other cohorts, and investigate what more-advantaged states do differently than less-advantaged states that may influence levels of cardiovascular inflammation among healthy women.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women’s-Faulkner Hospitalist Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ridker
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ommerborn
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Huisingh
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coull
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buring
authors.forename: Lisa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Berkman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein