US State-level income inequality and risks of heart attack and coronary risk behaviors: longitudinal findings.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine prospectively the association between US state income inequality and incidence of heart attack.

Methods

We used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (n = 34,445). Respondents completed interviews at baseline (2001-2002) and follow-up (2004-2005). Weighted multilevel modeling was used to determine if US state-level income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) at baseline was a predictor of heart attack during follow-up, controlling for individual-level and state-level covariates.

Results

In comparison to residents of US states in the lowest quartile of income inequality, those living in the second [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.71, 95 % CI 1.16-2.53)], third (AOR = 1.81, 95 % CI 1.28-2.57), and four

SUBMITTER: Pabayo R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4517572 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature