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Social networks and coronary heart disease among Japanese men in Hawaii
Insights
Strong social networks were linked to lower coronary heart disease prevalence in Japanese-American men. However, this association was less clear for the incidence of heart disease, suggesting complex relationships.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Social Epidemiology
- Preventive Cardiology
Background:
- Social networks are increasingly recognized as a determinant of health.
- Previous research suggests a link between social isolation and increased cardiovascular risk.
- The Honolulu Heart Program provides a unique dataset to investigate these associations in a specific population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between social network measures and the prevalence and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To explore whether social networks modify the risk of CHD in relation to established risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 4653 men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii was studied (Honolulu Heart Program, 1971-1979).
- Social network scales were used to assess social integration.
- Prevalence and incidence of myocardial infarction, angina, and total CHD were analyzed.
- Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, adjusting for age and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Results:
- Higher social network scores were inversely associated with CHD prevalence in both bivariate and multivariate analyses.
- Associations between social networks and CHD incidence were less evident.
- Multivariate analyses showed no significant association between social networks and CHD incidence, though a borderline association was found for nonfatal myocardial infarction.
- No significant association was observed for individual social network questions or for men in high-risk categories for other factors.
Conclusions:
- Social network measures were inversely associated with the prevalence of coronary heart disease in Japanese-American men.
- The association between social networks and the incidence of coronary heart disease was not consistently demonstrated in this cohort.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of social networks in CHD development and prevention, particularly concerning incidence.
Abstract:
A group of 4653 men of Japanese ancestry living in Hawaii were studied for the association of measures of social networks with both the prevalence and incidence rates of coronary heart disease (Honolulu Heart Program, 1971-1979). Prevalence rates for myocardial infarction, angina, and total coronary heart disease were inversely associated with the social network scales in bivariate analyses with age, and in multivariate analyses including 12 other risk factors. With the incidence data, the associations were less evident. Bivariate analysis with age revealed inverse associations for nonfatal myocardial infarction and total coronary heart disease with only one of the social network scales. With multivariate analyses, there was no significant association of any subgroup of coronary heart disease with any scale, although there was a borderline association (p = 0.08) of nonfatal myocardial infarction with one scale. No individual question was significantly associated with either prevalence or incidence rates for coronary heart disease. There was also little evidence of reduced risk of incident coronary heart disease associated with the social network scale for men in high risk categories of serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and cigarette smoking.