Lower educational attainment, specifically high school graduates, was associated with 44% higher odds of angina (OR 1.439) and 139% higher odds of myocardial infarction (OR 2.390) compared to college graduates among U.S. adults.
Observational (n=438,693)
Yes
Does lower educational attainment increase the risk of angina and MI in adults?
Lower educational attainment is associated with higher odds of angina and MI, particularly among younger adults, even after adjusting for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors.
Effect estimate: OR 1.439 for angina; OR 2.390 for MI (high school graduates vs college graduates) (95% CI Angina OR 1.439 (95% CI 1.25–1.64); MI OR 2.390 (95% CI 2.08–2.74))
Absolute Event Rate: 1.439% vs 1%
p-value: p=<0.05 (statistically significant)
Background: The literature shows a strong association between level of education and the risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). However, the extent to which this association attenuates after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in a survey-weighted national sample warrants further evaluation. Objective: We aimed to assess the association between educational attainment and angina and myocardial infarction (MI) across age groups in a nationally representative U.S. sample. Methods: The study analyzed 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 438,693 adults, a nationally representative telephone survey of U.S. adults. The dataset was accessed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BRFSS website in February 2023. Angina and MI were identified based on self-reported physician diagnoses. Analyses included adults aged 18 years and older with no missing data for education and outcomes. Results: In survey-weighted analyses with college graduates as the reference group, lower educational attainment was associated with higher odds of angina and MI, compared with college graduates. In the fully adjusted model (Model 2), attending high school was associated with higher odds of angina (OR 1.439) and MI (OR 2.390). Conclusions: Lower educational attainment is associated with higher odds of angina and MI, particularly among younger adults. Although the magnitude of these associations was attenuated after adjustment for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors, the persistence of the association underscores the importance of considering educational disparities in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Assinnari et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in U.S. adults aged 18 years and older with self-reported physician-diagnosed angina or myocardial infarction, stratified by educational attainment (n=438,693). Lower educational attainment (compared to college graduates) vs. College or technical school graduates was evaluated on Odds of angina and myocardial infarction (MI) based on self-reported physician diagnosis (OR 1.439 for angina; OR 2.390 for MI (high school graduates vs college graduates), 95% CI Angina OR 1.439 (95% CI 1.25–1.64); MI OR 2.390 (95% CI 2.08–2.74), p=<0.05 (statistically significant)). Lower educational attainment, specifically high school graduates, was associated with 44% higher odds of angina (OR 1.439) and 139% higher odds of myocardial infarction (OR 2.390) compared to college graduates among U.S. adults.