Key result
Occupational mobility was generally unrelated to IMT, though downward mobility was unexpectedly associated with less CCA-IMT (β = -0.04, p = .04), with effects varying by initial standing and sex.
Why the study?
Does occupational mobility affect future carotid artery intima-media thickness in young adults?
Cohort (n=2,350)
Yes
Does occupational mobility affect future carotid artery intima-media thickness in young adults?
Effect estimate: β = -0.04
p-value: p=0.04
Upward occupational mobility in young adults with lower initial socioeconomic standing is associated with reduced subclinical atherosclerosis later in life.
Occupational mobility generally unrelated to carotid IMT; hypothesis-generating downward-mobility association requires replication before any clinical inference.
Objective: To examine whether a 10-year change in occupational standing is related to carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) 5 years later. Methods: Data were obtained from 2350 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Occupational standing was measured at the Year 5 and 15 CARDIA follow-up examinations when participants were 30.2 (standard deviation = 3.6) and 40.2 (standard deviation = 3.6) years of age, respectively. IMT (common carotid artery [CCA], internal carotid artery [ICA], and bulb) was measured at Year 20. Occupational mobility was defined as the change in occupational standing between Years 5 and 15 using two semicontinuous variables. Analyses controlled for demographics, CARDIA center, employment status, parents' medical history, own medical history, Year 5 Framingham Risk Score, physiological risk factors and health behaviors averaged across the follow-up, and sonography reader. Results: Occupational mobility was unrelated to IMT save for an unexpected association of downward mobility with less CCA-IMT (β = −0.04, p = .04). However, associations differed depending on initial standing (Year 5) and sex. For those with lower initial standings, upward mobility was associated with less CCA-IMT (β = −0.07, p = .003), and downward mobility was associated with greater CCA-IMT and bulb-ICA-IMT (β = 0.14, p = .01 and β = 0.14, p = .03, respectively); for those with higher standings, upward mobility was associated with greater CCA-IMT (β = 0.15, p = .008), but downward mobility was unrelated to either IMT measure (p values > .20). Sex-specific analyses revealed associations of upward mobility with less CCA-IMT and bulb-ICA-IMT among men only (p values < .02). Conclusions: Occupational mobility may have implications for future cardiovascular health. Effects may differ depending on initial occupational standing and sex. CARDIA = Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults; CCA = common carotid artery; CI = confidence interval; CVD = cardiovascular disease; HDL-C = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; FRS = Framingham Risk Score; ICA = internal carotid artery; IMT = intima-media thickness; OC/HRT = oral contraceptive/hormone replacement therapy; SBP = systolic blood pressure; SD = standard deviation; SE = standard error; SEI = Socioeconomic Index; SES = socioeconomic status; TC = total cholesterol
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Janicki‐Deverts et al. (2011) conducted a cohort in Carotid artery intima-media thickness (n=2,350). Occupational mobility vs. Stable occupational standing was evaluated on Carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA, ICA, and bulb) at Year 20 (β = -0.04, p=0.04). Occupational mobility was generally unrelated to IMT, though downward mobility was unexpectedly associated with less CCA-IMT (β = -0.04, p = .04), with effects varying by initial standing and sex.
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