Growing up in a low-income household may have long-term consequences for heart health, with new research linking childhood socioeconomic conditions to a higher risk of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries later in life.
The study, conducted by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed data from 15,640 participants in the population-based SCAPIS study.
The participants were between 50 and 64 years old. Researchers examined their family income when they were between 10 and 12 years old and compared those childhood socioeconomic conditions with results from coronary artery CT scans conducted approximately five decades later.
The findings showed that people who grew up in the lowest-income households were more likely to have evidence of moderate to severe atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries than those who grew up in higher-income families.
After accounting for age, sex and other factors, participants from low-income families had a 43% higher likelihood of having the condition.
Even after researchers additionally considered lifestyle factors, socioeconomic circumstances during adulthood and other known cardiovascular risk factors, the difference remained significant at 31%.
Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty deposits and plaque build up inside arteries, potentially narrowing blood vessels and restricting blood flow.
The researchers said the findings indicate that socioeconomic conditions during childhood may influence cardiovascular health for decades, highlighting the potential long-term importance of childhood living conditions in preventing heart disease.