The American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2024, held this week in Chicago, highlighted new research on how socioeconomic factors during early pregnancy can affect heart health years after giving birth. A study presented at the event demonstrates that socioeconomic status (SES), which includes education, income, health insurance, and health literacy that can explain more than half of the disparities in cardiovascular health among Black, Hispanic, and white women up to seven years after pregnancy.
Key Findings on Socioeconomic Disparities in Heart Health
- The study conducted on over 4,000 first-time mothers assessed cardiovascular health using AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 metrics.
- Significant differences in heart health scores based on socioeconomic status (SES) among diverse racial and ethnic groups.
- White mothers averaged 12.2 points higher than Black mothers and 3.3 points higher than Hispanic mothers.
- Adjusting socioeconomic variables improved heart health scores for Black women by 6.6 points and for Hispanic women by 3.9 points.
- Adjustments significantly reduced the heart health gap between these groups and their white counterparts.
“Socioeconomic status during early pregnancy has a surprising impact on long-term heart health outcomes,” said Dr. Xiaoning “Jack” Huang, the study’s lead author. “Our findings indicate that if society were to achieve equal socioeconomic status across racial and ethnic groups, we could expect a major reduction in heart health disparities.”
Implications for Maternal Health Equity
These results highlight how structural inequities in healthcare access, insurance, and income negatively impact maternal health, with lasting consequences. Expanding equitable healthcare resources for vulnerable populations could help address these issues. Dr. Vesna D. Garovic from the AHA emphasizes the need for preventive measures like the Medicaid extension, which now offers postpartum coverage for up to a year in 47 states, aiming to reduce disparities that affect communities of color.
In the U.S., maternal health has reached a crisis, particularly for Black non-Hispanic women, who face significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires recognizing the effects of socioeconomic status from early pregnancy and promoting accessible long-term care for mothers.
Building on Social Determinants of Health for Better Heart Outcomes
This study underscores the important role of social determinants of health, such as economic opportunity, access to quality education, and affordable healthcare, in reducing heart disease disparities among mothers. The American Heart Association (AHA) advocates for policy changes to make preventive care affordable and accessible, which is essential for lowering the rising maternal mortality rates in the U.S. While the findings are preliminary and show associations rather than causation, they may inspire future research on socioeconomic factors in maternal heart health. Supporting preventive care during pregnancy and postpartum is crucial for achieving health equity. Ultimately, equitable care from early pregnancy can be foundational for healthier mothers and families.
