Social Determinants of Health and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Research demonstrates that socioeconomic inequalities are “strong determinants” of cardiovascular risk throughout the world.

Members of the writing committee for the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2019 Guideline on Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease incorporated throughout the guideline consideration of how social determinants of health may impact the efficacy of specific guidance and prescriptions for an individual patient. ACC/AHA recommends that clinicians revisit these considerations at each follow-up visit.

Considerations include but are not limited to socioeconomic and educational status as well as cultural, home, and employment environments. The slides below highlight examples of considerations cited by the ACC/AHA for 7 health domains.