Cardiovascular health in the spotlight: DLH-supported study wins NIEHS ‘Paper of the Month’

A paper co-authored by DLH researcher Braxton Jackson has been honored as ‘Paper of the Month’ by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The paper, “Industry of employment and occupational class in relation to cardiovascular health by race/ethnicity, sex/gender, age and income among adults in the USA: a cross-sectional study,” investigated cardiovascular health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.  

Why you should learn more: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, affecting millions of adults each year in the United States alone. Although a decrease in cardiovascular disease mortality has been observed in recent decades, socially disadvantaged groups continue to have higher rates. 

Racially underrepresented groups working in laborer positions tend to have worse cardiovascular health than those working in professional or managerial positions. These groups are also more likely to work in labor or support service positions, where job strain associated with cardiovascular disease is often high. 

Why this research is critical: Few studies have included racially and ethnically diverse samples in research of labor-related cardiovascular disease. This research is essential to positively increase health outcomes in minority groups, where non-Hispanic Black adults have higher rates of heart attack, are twice as likely to have a stroke, and are 30% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared with non-Hispanic white adults.  

Risk factors for cardiovascular health in the social and physical environment are also understudied. Work environment, workplace practices, societal structures, and occupational hierarchies have manifested disadvantages and limitations for underrepresented groups, contributing to racial and ethnic health disparities.  

The DLH impact: The research displayed evidence that working in labor versus professional and management positions was associated with lower ideal cardiovascular health rates, except among Latino and Latina adults. The findings also showed a lower ideal cardiovascular health prevalence among minority groups, especially in adults over the age of 50 and those with an annual household income less than $75,000.  

Given the higher likelihood of labor occupations and lower prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health among racial and ethnic minority groups, social determinants related to occupational class should be considered in future studies of racial disparities in cardiovascular health. The study’s results also provide evidence to help support efforts that promote cardiovascular health and mitigate cardiovascular disease risk.  

Interested in learning more about DLH-supported research? Explore DLH’s publications, presentations, and more in our latest Research Update.