A recent Mayo Clinic study using artificial intelligence has found that financial strain accelerates heart aging as strongly as traditional medical conditions.
Researchers analyzed nearly 300,000 electrocardiograms to estimate participants’ biological heart age, discovering that financial stress topped the list of social factors associated with accelerated cardiac aging.
Struggling with expenses like housing, food, and medical care significantly impacted heart health, independent of other clinical risk factors.
Over two years, participants facing financial strain had a 60% higher risk of death, compared with just a 10% increase for those with a prior heart attack. Food insecurity was the second most influential factor, while housing instability raised mortality risk by 18%.
The research suggests doctors should screen for social determinants such as financial stress and food insecurity alongside traditional heart risk factors.
“Helping patients secure stable housing and adequate nutrition could deliver heart health benefits comparable to managing cholesterol or blood pressure,” the study concluded.
Addressing these social issues may also help reduce racial disparities in cardiac aging, particularly among African American populations.