Nearly half of adults aged 65 and older live with prediabetes, a condition that increases their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and facing heart-related health problems.
A new study from the University at Buffalo, published in the journal Aging, highlights how social conditions in older adults with prediabetes may worsen their risk for cardiovascular complications.
Dr. Obinna Ekwunife, the lead author and assistant professor at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, explains that older adults often deal with overlapping health and social challenges.
These challenges can speed up the decline in heart health. That’s why this study focused on how social factors play a role in worsening cardiovascular health among people with prediabetes.
The research was based on data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, involving 5,086 adults aged 50 and older with prediabetes.
Researchers studied five major social factors: economic stability, neighborhood and environment, education level, access to healthcare, and social support.
They then looked at three key heart-related health markers: blood sugar control (measured by HbA1c), systolic blood pressure, and cholesterol ratio. They considered how each social factor affected these health indicators, adjusting the results based on age, gender, race, and marital status.
The biggest finding? Education level had the most consistent and powerful impact. People who didn’t graduate from high school had worse results across all three health measures—higher blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Even when other risks like low income or no insurance were included, low education still stood out.
Economic instability also played a significant role in poor heart health outcomes, though not as strongly as education.
Dr. Ekwunife says lower education affects health in many ways. People with less education may earn less money, have fewer job choices, live in more stressful or unhealthy places, and find it harder to understand health information.
This mix makes it more difficult to follow medical advice, afford healthy food, and use helpful services—all of which can hurt heart health.
So, what can be done? Since older adults can’t go back to school, the study suggests ways to support them more effectively. These include making health education simple and culturally appropriate, offering community support programs, and using technology and health coaches to explain medical information.
The study also suggests that health policies should include services for people with prediabetes, especially those with low income or education.
Dr. Ekwunife emphasizes that doctors should treat social factors like low education as real health risks. He says checking in on a patient’s social needs, speaking clearly, and offering support can make a real difference.
Managing prediabetes isn’t just about medicine and diet—it’s also about helping people get the support and information they need.
The study is published in Aging.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
