Association Between Social Determinants of Health and Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Adults

Previous evidence suggests an association between social determinants of health and cardiovascular disease. However, evidence for subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease, such as arterial stiffness, is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between social determinants of health (gender, marital status, educational level, and occupation) and arterial stiffness in healthy adults. A cross‐sectional study was conducted from the EVasCu study, including 390 healthy participants (42.02 ± 13.15 years). Adjusted and unadjusted differences in arterial stiffness and social determinants of health (gender, marital status, educational level, and occupation) were performed via Student’s t ‐test and ANCOVA analysis. Our results suggest that males (unadjusted model, p = 0.037; Models 1 and 2, p < 0.001), divorced or widowed (unadjusted, Models 1 and 2, p < 0.001), with primary education (unadjusted model, p = 0.009; Models 1 and 2, p < 0.001), and being unemployed or homemakers (unadjusted, Models 1 and 2, p < 0.001) were associated with higher levels of arterial stiffness. Our findings suggest that males, divorced or widowed individuals, those with a primary educational level, and homemakers or unemployed individuals had higher levels of arterial stiffness. Considering that social determinants of health have been widely associated with the risk of cardiovascular events, adequate control of arterial stiffness could be a clinical strategy to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, due to the cross‐sectional design of the study, the results should be interpreted with caution, and longitudinal studies are necessary to establish a causal relationship

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