Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis for Unveiling Multicellular Immune Signatures in Clinical Heart Attack Cohorts
Published on: September 20, 2024
Social Networks and Cardiovascular Disease Events in the Jackson Heart Study
Insights
Greater social networks (SN) may reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, particularly for women. This study found SN associated with lower coronary heart disease and heart failure risk in women and coronary heart disease in men.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Determinants of Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately impacts African American adults.
- Greater social networks (SN), or social connectedness, are hypothesized to lower CVD risk.
Approach:
- The Jackson Heart Study cohort (n=5252) used the Social Network Index (SNI) to assess SN.
- Cox proportional hazards regression analyzed the association between SN and incident CVD (CHD, stroke, HF).
- Mediation by depressive symptoms, hypertension control, and diabetes control was tested.
Key Points:
- Higher SN scores were linked to reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and heart failure (HF) in women.
- SN scores were also associated with lower CHD risk in men.
- Mediation effects of depressive symptoms, diabetes, and hypertension control were not supported.
Conclusions:
- Increased social networks may offer protection against cardiovascular events, especially for women.
- Findings highlight the potential role of social connectedness in CVD prevention strategies for African American adults.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects African American adults. Greater social networks (SN), or social connectedness, may lower the risk of CVD events.
Objective:
Determine the association of SN and incident CVD and test mediation by depressive symptoms, hypertension control and diabetes control.
Methods:
We used the Social Network Index (SNI) at exam 1 (2000-2004) to develop a continuous standardized SN score and binary categories (high vs. low) among participants in the Jackson Heart Study (n=5252, mean age=54.8 years). Surveillance of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and heart failure (HF) events occurred after exam 1 (2005 for HF) until 2016. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we estimated the association of SN and CVD events by sex and tested the mediation of depressive symptoms, hypertension control and diabetes control. Models adjusted for age, education, health behaviors, and CVD co-morbidities.
Results:
Among women, the SN score was associated with a lower risk of CHD and HF after full adjustment (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68, 0.89 and HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.63, 0.95, respectively), but the association with stroke attenuated after adjustment for co-morbidities (HR 95% CI 0.88 95% CI 0.67, 1.14). SN scores were also associated with CHD in men (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70, 0.99) after full adjustment. High vs. low SN was associated with CHD in men and women, but not after adjustment for co-morbidities. There was no evidence of mediation by depressive symptoms, diabetes control, and hypertension control.
Conclusion:
Higher SN may lower the risk of CVD events, especially in women.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction