Food insecurity—when food is not readily available to an individual due to a lack of money or other resources—is a significant issue in the United States, one that may get worse as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. And according to a new analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, there is a clear association between food insecurity and cardiovascular mortality rates.
The study, which will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2020 virtual meeting, explored U.S. data from 2011 to 2017. The researchers behind the work did note one promising finding—that overall food insecurity rates in the country declined from 2011 to 2017—but areas where food insecurity levels did increase were the same ones that saw a jump in cardiovascular mortality.
“There has been a growing disparity when it comes to food insecurity, and this data demonstrates that parts of the country are being left behind,” corresponding author Sameed Khatana, MD, of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said in a prepared statement. “Unfortunately, this may only get worse as the country grapples with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, interventions that improve a community’s economic wellbeing could potentially lead to improved community cardiovascular health.”
The team’s next step is to look closer at which specific interventions can improve food insecurity—and, with it, cardiovascular mortality rates.
AHA Scientific Sessions 2020 is scheduled for Nov. 13-17, 2020. More information on the virtual event is available here.
The full study from Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes is available here.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.