Link between exercise stress test result and socioeconomic status

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

individuals who have abnormal findings on exercise stress testing tend to have lower socioeconomic status.
Doctors use exercise stress testing - exercise on a treadmill whilst attached to various monitors - to assess for heart disease. Now a team at the Cleveland Clinic has demonstrated that those with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to have abnormal stress test results.

They looked at over 30,000 people referred for stress testing over a 12 year period. The death rate was strongly linked to socioeconomic status - the lower it was, the higher the mortality. Nearly half of this could be predicted by abnormal results on stress testing. The findings have important public health implications. Maybe those of low socioeconomic status who show latent heart disease from abnormal stress tests should be targeted for more preventive measures.

The link between heart disease and low socioeconomic status is well recognized. It may be that poverty and disadvantage make it harder to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Public policies that make it easier for such people to take exercise by providing better recreational facilities, for instance, may have a positive impact on their heart health.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 15th February 2006 Volume 295 pages 784-792