Socioeconomic Status and Heart Disease

For the first time a study has been released showing findings about socioeconomic status and heart disease. The model examined is about risk factors for heart disease associated with socioeconomic status, and the researchers say it should be considered when patients are being treated. The United Press International said of the study, "The study, published in the American Heart Journal, finds the current model used to assess risk -- Framingham Risk Scoring -- underestimates the risk of death from cardiac disease, but this discrepancy is cleared up in the statistical analysis when income and education are added to the list of risk factors." The researchers also noted that this is the first study of its kind. They define low socioeconomic status as a household who brings in at total of $27,000 combined salary. The study noted that there was higher risk of heart disease going untreated in such patients, as the monetary means and education levels were to their disadvantage.