What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Cardiometabolic risk factors (n=500769). Intervention: Social deprivation vs. Least deprived. Primary outcome: Prevalence of hypertension (% difference between least and most deprived) (Difference 5.1%, 95% CI 4.7-5.6).

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to explore the prevalence and treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors by socioeconomic status and sex among UK Biobank participants.

June 16, 2026Open Access

Socioeconomic differences in the prevalence, treatment and control of major cardiometabolic risk factors by sex: a cross-sectional study of the UK Biobank

Key Result

Greater social deprivation was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension (5.1% difference; 95% CI 4.7-5.6) and chronic kidney disease compared to least deprived individuals.

Key Points

The study aims to explore the prevalence and treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors by socioeconomic status and sex among UK Biobank participants.
Included 500,769 UK Biobank participants (54.4% women) with at least one baseline risk factor measured.
Examined differences in cardiometabolic risk factors, treatment, and control by socioeconomic status (Townsend score fifths) and sex.
Total cholesterol and LDL-C levels were lower with greater deprivation, while systolic blood pressure decreased; C-reactive protein increased.
Prevalence of hypertension and chronic kidney disease correlated with deprivation, showing a 12.1% difference in women vs 15.4% in men for smoking.
Obesity prevalence was higher in women (13.7%) compared to men (8.2%), and diabetes prevalence in men was greater (3.8%) than in women (2.6%).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=500,769)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does socioeconomic deprivation affect the prevalence, treatment, and control of major cardiometabolic risk factors differently in men and women?

Population

500,769 UK Biobank participants (54.4% women) with at least one baseline cardiometabolic risk factor measured.

Exposure

Socioeconomic deprivation (measured by Townsend score fifths)

Comparator

Least deprived participants

Outcome

Differences in cardiometabolic risk factors, including treatment and control, by socioeconomic status and sexsurrogate

Greater social deprivation is associated with worse cardiometabolic risk factors, with notable sex differences such as higher smoking among deprived men and higher obesity among deprived women.

Main Result

Effect estimate: Difference 5.1% (95% CI 4.7-5.6)

Abstract

Introduction Social deprivation is related to cardiovascular risk, but the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors by deprivation and sex is less explored. We addressed this in a large UK cohort. Methods 500 769 UK Biobank participants (54.4% women) with ≥1 baseline risk factor measured were included. We examined differences in risk factors, including treatment and control, by socioeconomic status (Townsend score fifths) and sex. Results Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower with greater deprivation and systolic blood pressure was lower, while C-reactive protein was higher. Body mass index, waist circumference and triglycerides were also higher with greater deprivation, with larger differences in women than men. Corresponding social differences in glycated haemoglobin and glucose were higher in men than in women while estimated glomerular filtration rate was higher in men only. The prevalence of hypertension and chronic kidney disease was higher with greater deprivation (% difference between least and most deprived (95% CI 5.1 (4.7 to 5.6) and 0.9 (0.8 to 1.1), respectively), but varied by sex for smoking (12.1 (11.6 to 12.5) vs 15.4 (14.9 to 15.9) in women vs men, respectively), obesity (13.7 (13.1 to 14.2) vs 8.2 (7.7 to 8.8)) and diabetes (2.6 (2.3 to 2.8) vs 3.8 (3.4 to 4.1)). Treatment and control of hypertension and dyslipidaemia were higher with greater deprivation. Conclusions Apart from total cholesterol and LDL-C, greater social deprivation relates to worse cardiometabolic risk factors. Social differences vary by sex for several risk factors, including higher smoking among men and obesity among women. Public health interventions considering both deprivation and sex are warranted.