Disparities in absolute cardiovascular risk, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and other risk factors by income within racial/ethnic groups among middle-aged and older US people

This cross-sectional study determined income disparities in age-adjusted prevalence and trends of 10-year high absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and current tobacco smoking within racial/ethnic groups in the US. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2016 data of 40–79-year-old people were analyzed. Survey periods were grouped as 2001–2006, 2007–2012, and 2013–2016. Race/ethnicity was grouped as non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and other races/ethnicities. Three equal-sized strata (low-, middle-, and high income) were made from the family income-to-poverty ratio. Of the 25,777 participants (mean age: 55.6 years, 48% males), a majority of the studied prevalence was higher in most survey years among non-Hispanic blacks compared to non-Hispanic whites. Most studied prevalence was also higher among low-income people than middle-/high-income people. Within racial/ethnic groups, the prevalence also differed by income for high CVD risk, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, CKD, LTPA, and tobacco smoking ( P < 0.05) in most survey periods. After stratifying by race/ethnicity, the prevalence of many conditions remained disproportionately higher among low- and middle-income people, compared to those with high income during most survey periods in all racial/ethnic groups. These results reveal income in addition to race/ethnicity to be an important correlate of cardiovascular health and underscore the need to consider each when controlling for risk factors.