To develop a county-level social cardiovascular mortality index (SCMI) to identify counties at risk of high total cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and compare its predictive accuracy with the CDC social vulnerability index (SVI).
Key Findings:
The SCMI effectively identifies counties at high risk for CVD mortality based on SDOH, providing a crucial tool for targeted interventions.
The SCMI outperformed the CDC-SVI in predicting total CVD mortality, indicating its enhanced utility in public health.
Key SDOH variables influencing CVD mortality include income, education, and healthcare access, underscoring the need for policy focus in these areas.
Interpretation:
The SCMI provides a more tailored approach to identifying high-risk counties for CVD mortality, highlighting the importance of SDOH in public health planning and intervention strategies.
Limitations:
Exclusion of counties with significant missing data may limit generalizability, potentially skewing the results.
The study relies on historical data, which may not fully capture current trends, necessitating caution in interpretation.
Conclusion:
The SCMI serves as a valuable tool for public health agencies to target interventions and policies aimed at reducing CVD mortality by addressing underlying social determinants.
