[Socioeconomic status and inflammatory biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases: How do education, occupation and income operate?].
BACKGROUND
In light of the consistent SES gradient in cardiovascular diseases, current research is focusing on possible pathways through which the socioeconomic status (SES) may impact health. Inflammatory processes play a critical role in the development of cardiovascular diseases and are associated with stress. Therefore, they might be one psychobiological pathway explaining how the SES gets under the skin. Considering the different meanings of education, occupation and income, this article gives an overview of the association between inflammatory biomarkers and socioeconomic status.


RESULTS
There is high evidence for associations between indicators of SES - education, occupation and income - and inflammatory biomarkers. Possible pathways are health status, health behavior and psychobiological processes as a result of increased exposure to psychosocial stress.


CONCLUSIONS
The SES gradient in cardiovascular diseases reflects behavioral as well as physiological pathways and systemic inflammation seems to be involved. Low SES is associated with an increased exposure to adverse circumstances of life, which can trigger biological responses and result in an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Medical history taking in cardiology should focus on socio-structural exposures and thereby reflect the different meanings of education, occupation and income.
Institut für Medizinische Soziologie , Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Deutschland, frank.rosenbach@medizin.uni-halle.de.
F
F
Rosenbach
M
M
Richter
T-K
TK
Pförtner
D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012923:Social Class
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines