In a new study from Oregon Health & Science University, researchers found people making less than $35,000 a year may be more likely to have carotid artery stenosis, a leading cause of stroke.
Carotid artery stenosis is a narrowing of the large arteries on either side of the neck that carry blood to the brain. The narrowing is often a buildup of sticky plaques.
Known risk factors include high levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes.
In the study, the team analyzed electronic health records of a diverse pool of 203,813 participants in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program.
Overall, 2.7% of participants had been diagnosed with carotid artery stenosis. Among them, 7.3% had undergone revascularization, a surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to the brain.
The team found those making less than $35,000 a year had 15% greater odds of carotid artery stenosis than those with a higher income. Lower-income also was associated with 38% higher odds for carotid revascularization.
They say having a lower income may affect people’s food choices. They may not be able to buy healthy fruits and vegetables. And the more we learn about this, the more we can intervene and potentially change the pattern.
The study offers further evidence that doctors should be considering health disparities and using what they learn about their patients to guide preventive care.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that this blood thinner drug plus aspirin could strongly reduce stroke risk, and researchers find a new way to prevent recurrent stroke.
For more information about stroke and your health, please see recent studies about retired entertainer thought she slept awkwardly. It was a stroke, and recent case that after three strokes, he ‘overheard’ the grim prognosis and fought back.
The study is published in Stroke and was conducted by Dr. Helmi Lutsep et al.
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