Social vulnerabilities, including community poverty and crowding, were heavily correlated with the self-reported physical and mental health of elderly Black US residents.
Cross-Sectional
Yes
How do cardiovascular disease risk factors, community vulnerabilities, and individual health behaviors contribute to perceived physical and mental wellness among elderly US Medicare beneficiaries?
Social determinants of health, including community vulnerabilities, significantly impact perceived physical and mental wellness in elderly populations, particularly among Black individuals, highlighting the need for community-level interventions in cardiovascular risk management.
INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for males, females, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In addition to known epidemiological and behavioral risk factors, recent evidence suggests that circumstantial or behavioral factors may also be associated with CVD. This study evaluates the contribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, community vulnerabilities, and individual health behaviors to individual physical and mental wellness among Black and White, male, and female Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, county-level CVD risk factor prevalence, and selected items from the Social Vulnerability Index. RESULTS: Correlations were found between unhealthy days reported by males and area social vulnerabilities and health behaviors. Prevalence of disease was correlated with mentally unhealthy days for White males. Among White females, health behaviors, disease prevalence, and social vulnerability measures were associated with unhealthy days. Among Black females, disease prevalence was highly correlated with mentally unhealthy days. DISCUSSION: While individual-level health behaviors are highly associated with perceived physical and mental health, the self-reported health of Black respondents is also heavily correlated with local area vulnerabilities, including community poverty, group housing, and crowding.
Jacobs et al. (Sun,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease risk factors and wellness. Social vulnerability, cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, and health behaviors was evaluated on Perceived physical and mental wellness (unhealthy days). Social vulnerabilities, including community poverty and crowding, were heavily correlated with the self-reported physical and mental health of elderly Black US residents.