Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage from childhood to midlife and carotid atherosclerosis.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage correlates with cardiovascular disease risk. However, its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis from childhood to midlife is not well-defined. We examined whether cumulative neighbourhood disadvantage is associated with carotid artery plaques, a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: We analysed data from 1998 participants in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, a cohort followed from childhood (mean age 10.7 years in 1980) to adulthood (mean age 48.6 years in 2018-2020). Neighbourhood disadvantage was derived from national grid-based socioeconomic data and computed cumulatively across the life course. The number of carotid artery plaques (mean plaque count) was assessed by standardized ultrasound imaging. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the associations. Mediation analyses were used to assessed the role of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics. RESULTS: Higher cumulative neighbourhood disadvantage from childhood to mid-adulthood was associated with a 1.24-fold increase in mean plaque count for every 1 standard deviation increase in cumulative disadvantage. This relationship persisted after controlling for parental carotid artery plaques, polygenic coronary artery disease risk score, and Framingham risk score. The association was partially explained by ideal CVH metrics, particularly smoking and blood pressure, which collectively accounted for almost half of the association. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage beginning in childhood is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in midlife, independently of achieved socioeconomic position. These findings highlight the importance of cumulative socioeconomic environments across the life course and suggest that behavioural risk factors may partly explain observed neighbourhood-level associations with atherosclerosis.
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,970
Funders: Yrjö Jahnssonin Säätiö, Wellcome Trust, Kela, Academy of Finland, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Jane ja Aatos Erkon Säätiö, Juho Vainion Säätiö, Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö, Emil Aaltosen Säätiö, Sydäntutkimussäätiö, Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö, Tampereen Tuberkuloosisäätiö, Diabetesliitto, Paavo Nurmen Säätiö, Tays, Syöpäsäätiö, Turun Yliopistollinen Keskussairaala, Diabetestutkimussäätiö, Suomen kliinisen kemian yhdistys, National Institutes of Health, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Medical Research Council, European Research Council, National Institute on Aging
Awards: The Whitehall II study: A core resource for ageing research, G1037428335, G1432259313, G1601895641, G1686171937, G1872575776, G1891033315, G2026946236, G2155702474, Effects of stress on the development of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, G2230772921, G247187792, G2513778610, G2641752829, G3111916513, Role of mid- and late-life risk factors in social inequalities in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, G3582688621, G3816174250, G3858258543, G4139205196, G4351223834, G4655867613, Taking the long view: Identification of plasma protein biomarkers for dementia risk, G4965406020, G5090981026, G5208171454, G523551622, G5474452856, G5489727732, G5646563246, G5770909501, G6164432047, G6310393984, G682553224, G69797456, Lifelong and transgenerational epigenetic profiles in relation to the development of cardiometabolic diseases, G7540798381, G8086699232, G84288707, G9000219096, G9488050
OpenAlex ID: W7127122238