Poverty and Inflammation Heighten Mortality Risks

January 17, 2024

Prior evidence has shown poverty can increase mental illness, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and mortality risks. Separately, chronic inflammation from factors like poor diet, obesity, inactivity, toxins or autoimmune disorders also heightens disease and death risks.

However, new US research found the collective impact of facing both poverty and chronic inflammation more than doubles heart disease mortality risk and triples cancer mortality risk over 15 years. This is far beyond what would be expected from simply adding the individual effects.

Synergistic, Not Just Additive

The researchers concluded poverty and inflammation interact synergistically to worsen outcomes – more than merely contributing additively. If the risks were additive, a 100% increase would be expected. But with a 127% rise for heart disease and 196% for cancer, the synergistic amplification is clear.

Analyzing 15-Year Mortality Data

The analysis combined health surveys for 40+ year old adults from 1999-2002, assessing inflammation and socioeconomic markers. Researchers then calculated 15-year mortality using death records.

Those with either inflammation or disadvantage alone had around 50% higher overall mortality. But having both factors present greater than doubled mortality risk overall.

Calls for Routine Inflammation Screenings

The authors highlighted the need to incorporate routine inflammation checks for socially disadvantaged groups given their vulnerability. This could help curb preventable deaths through early medical intervention.

Existing research shows inflammation exacerbates oxidative stress, insulin resistance, metabolism and vascular function issues. It also accelerates cellular aging and tumor growth.

Moving from Science to Clinical Practice

It is critical to move inflammation science into clinical practice through screening guidelines. This would allow doctors to address root causes in at-risk patients rather than just documenting impacts.

Context on Poverty and Inflammation

Poverty Indicators

Poverty was assessed using factors like education, income, employment, home ownership and access to amenities. Those in the lowest quartile across markers were categorized as disadvantaged.

Assessing Inflammation

Inflammation was measured via blood markers like C-reactive protein levels and white blood cell counts. Participants in the top quartile were classified as having chronic inflammation.

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