Socioeconomic disparities and life's essential 8: a focused review and considerations for improving cardiovascular health in the United States

Socioeconomic disparities continue to impact cardiovascular outcomes in the United States and clinicians are increasingly faced with navigating barriers for patients of low socioeconomic status (SES). The purpose of this review is to briefly discuss unique challenges in this population and to identify resources and strategies for clinicians to help improve cardiovascular health (CVH) guided by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) domains. The review is intended for preventive cardiology clinicians across varying disciplines including but not limited to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician associates, exercise physiologists and dietitians who are involved in delivering patient care. The rationale for this work is that resources which can assist preventive cardiology clinicians in overcoming socioeconomic disparities exist in a rather fragmented manner which can be challenging to access and time consuming to implement. One practical aim of this review, therefore, is to unify those resources and strategies in a way for clinicians to utilize and reference in day-to-day practice. The LE8 domains provide a structured framework for improving overall cardiovascular health and this review will aid clinicians in understanding and overcoming barriers for patients of low SES incorporating open communication with patients, social support, community resources, and digital tools.