New Research Suggests That People With A Higher Income Have A 32% Lower Risk Of Dying After A Stroke, And Those With Higher Education Levels Have A 26% Lower Mortality Risk Post-Stroke

According to the CDC, more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke each year, and not all patients have the same odds of survival.
But, a recent study revealed two factors that may have a significant impact. The research suggests that your income and educational level may greatly influence your chances of stroke survival.
Professor Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden led this study and examined the medical records of just under 7,000 stroke patients from 2014 to 2019 in Gothenburg.
The results show that individuals with higher incomes had a striking 32% lower risk of dying following a stroke as opposed to those with lower incomes. Additionally, individuals with higher education levels experienced a 26% lower mortality risk after a stroke.
The research team has since defined these elements as “social determinants of health,” or SDoH. Essentially, they refer to the circumstances people are born into, grow up in, live, work, and age – all of which can significantly influence health outcomes.
So, this particular study honed in on four primary SDoH factors, including residential area, country of origin, level of education, and income.
The findings revealed just how these societal factors can unfavorably affect certain people. Patients with only one adverse SDoH factor actually had an 18% higher risk of mortality after a stroke in comparison to those without any factors.
Plus, for people burdened with two to four adverse SDoH factors, their risk of mortality after a stroke surged to 24%.
“Our findings underscore a stark reality – an individual’s socioeconomic status can be a matter of life or death in the context of stroke, especially when they are confronted with multiple unfavorable SDoH factors,” Stibrant Sunnerhagen explained.

elnariz – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
“While our study was conducted in Gothenburg, we believe these insights resonate across Europe, where similar healthcare structures and levels of social vulnerability exist, highlighting a pervasive issue throughout the continent.”
Still, education and income were not the sole contributors. The researchers actually identified connections between heightened mortality risk and lifestyle aspects such as sedentary behavior, alcohol abuse, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation – or a form of irregular heartbeat.
Moreover, the study even uncovered some gender discrepancies. As the number of adverse SDoH factors increased, so did the proportion of women.
So, while 41% of the participants without unfavorable factors were women, this proportion rose to 59% among those with two to four unfavorable factors.
Considering the study’s results, Stibrant Sunnerhagen stressed how urgent action is needed – especially since the projected rise in the number of stroke cases in Europe between 2017 and 2047 is 27%.
“In light of our study’s findings, targeted strategies are essential. Policymakers, for instance, must tailor legislation and approaches to account for the specific circumstances and needs of diverse communities, while clinicians should consider identifying patients with unfavorable SDoH factors to prevent post-stroke mortality,” she concluded.
“By addressing these disparities, we will not only support the principles of health equity but also have the potential to significantly enhance public health outcomes.”
The researchers will be presenting the findings of this study at the 10th European Stroke Organization Conference (ESOC).
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