To evaluate the association of state-level SNAP-related policies with county-level cardiovascular mortality rates between 2006 and 2019.
Approach:
Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis using a g-computation framework to assess the relationship between SNAP policy index and cardiovascular mortality.
Data Sources: Data on SNAP policies from the US Department of Agriculture and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Policy Index Calculation: A SNAP policy index was created based on various state-level SNAP-related policies, scaled from 0 to 10.
Mortality Rate Calculation: County-level cardiovascular mortality rates were calculated for adults aged 20 years or older using ICD-10 codes.
Statistical Analysis: G-computation was used to evaluate the association of changes in the SNAP policy index with changes in cardiovascular mortality rates.
Key Findings:
Food insecurity is associated with adverse cardiovascular health outcomes.
SNAP participation is linked to improved health outcomes, including better medication adherence and lower diabetes prevalence.
Variations in state-level SNAP policies are associated with differences in participation and food insecurity rates.
Interpretation:
The study examines the relationship between variations in SNAP policies and cardiovascular mortality, considering socioeconomic and demographic factors.
Limitations:
The analysis does not evaluate individual-level SNAP participation.
Exclusion of some counties due to missing data may affect generalizability.
Conclusion:
The study explores how state-level SNAP policies may influence cardiovascular mortality rates.
