The association between history of incarceration and heart disease: Adults from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Olukotun, Oluwatoyin; Williams, Joni S.; Zhou, Zhipeng; Akinboboye, Olaitan; Egede, Leonard E.
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 75(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Incarceration -- Health disparities -- Heart disease; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102808
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: Heart disease affects over 30.3 million adults in the United States and is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability. However, little is known about the relationship between exposure to incarceration and chronic disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between prior incarceration and heart disease. This was a study of 12, 686 adults from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) 1979 dataset. History of incarceration was the predictor and defined as any episode of incarceration in a correctional institution. The outcome, heart disease, was defined as self-reported diagnosis of heart disease. Covariates included: Demographic factors (age, race, sex, place of residence, and marital status), lifestyle and clinical factors (drug use, body mass index (BMI), early life health limitation, cigarette smoking, and binge drinking), and socioeconomic factors (poverty status, educational attainment, and employment status). Pooled logistic regression models with generalized estimating equation approach (GEE) were used to model the relationship between history of incarceration and heart disease. In the unadjusted analyses, a history of incarceration was significantly associated with an increased odds of heart disease (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.40, 3.75). This relationship persisted after adjusting for demographic (OR 3.46; 95% CI 2.06, 5.85) and lifestyle and clinical factors (OR 3.46; 95% CI 2.03, 5.88) and socioeconomic factors (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.25, 3.67). In this sample of adults, a history of incarceration was significantly associated with heart disease, after adjusting for demographic, lifestyle and clinical factors, and socioeconomic factors. These findings suggest that exposure to incarceration may heighten susceptibility to heart disease. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which incarceration impacts cardiovascular health. Highlights: Individuals with a history of incarceration have two-fold increased odds of having heart disease. Future studies should examine pathways through which having a history of incarceration impacts cardiovascular health.