IMPACT OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN GEORGIAN POPULATION

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to be the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, representing 30% of all death. In Georgia 36% of all death caused by ischemic heart disease and 23% caused by stroke. There is a limited data on association between socioeconomic status (SES) and CVD risk in Georgia. Our study aims at assessing association between SES and CVD risk factors in a cohort of adult Georgians. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the region of Western Georgia between June 2007 - June 2008. 1196 individuals aged 40-70 years were enrolled in the study. To assess SES we collected information about education, income, ownership of a private transport, and employment. CVD risk was assessed by the WHO/ISH risk classification scale. In addition, anthropometric measurements were conducted in each study participant. Low education level (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57-5.17), obesity (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.16 -3.92) and abdominal obesity (aOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.26 -3.87) were statically significantly associated with more than 10% 10 year risk of a fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular event. Lower education level (not finished high school -aOR 2.21 95% CI 1.44 - 3.38, undergraduate - aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.12 - 2,05), income 120 USD or more (aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54 -1.00), overweight (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.07 - 2.63), obesity (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04 - 2.41), and abdominal obesity (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.01 - 2.03) were found to be statistically significant predictors of CVD in our study population. We found that education level, income, body mass index and waist to hip ratio are CVD risk factors. Public health authorities, as well as clinicians should consider this finding in primary and secondary prevention and organize multidisciplinary teams to address those risk factors.