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State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Policies and Cardiovascular Mortality
Sriya Potluri1, Nicholas Illenberger2, Sameed Ahmed M Khatana3,4,5
1Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
JAMA Network Open
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Stronger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policies are linked to reduced cardiovascular deaths. Expanding these policies could significantly improve heart health for low-income adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Health
- Health Policy
Background:
- Food insecurity negatively impacts cardiovascular health.
- State-level policies for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) vary, affecting participation but their impact on cardiovascular mortality is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between SNAP policies and county-level cardiovascular mortality rates.
- To understand how policy variations influence cardiovascular health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study utilizing state SNAP policy data (2006-2019) to create a SNAP policy index.
- County-level cardiovascular mortality rates were calculated using National Center for Health Statistics and Census Bureau data.
- G-computation and marginal structural models were employed to estimate associations.
Main Results:
- A 1-point increase in the SNAP policy index was associated with a 1.02% decrease in county cardiovascular mortality.
- Between 2006-2019, the median SNAP policy index increased, correlating with reduced mortality.
- An estimated 46,123 fewer cardiovascular deaths could occur if all states adopted high-generosity SNAP policies.
Conclusions:
- Policies designed to increase SNAP participation are significantly associated with lower cardiovascular mortality rates.
- Adopting robust SNAP policies may be a key strategy for enhancing cardiovascular health in vulnerable populations.
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