Poverty poses a greater risk of premature death than smoking for low-income individuals in the United States, according to a new study by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The study analyzed data from 79,385 participants aged 40 to 79 in the Southern Community Cohort Study. Over two-thirds of the participants were Black, and more than half reported an annual household income of less than $15,000.
During the 18-year follow-up period, the researchers observed 19,749 deaths among the participants. Strikingly, both Black and white individuals earning less than $15,000 per year died, on average, more than 10 years earlier than those with an annual income exceeding $50,000.
“Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of death in the U.S. However, we found that in this low-income population, excess risk of death due to poverty is greater in magnitude than tobacco smoking,” Dr. Wei Zheng stated.
The findings highlight the urgent need to address income inequality and its profound impact on health disparities among low-income Americans, particularly in the southeastern United States. The researchers emphasize that efforts to improve income equality are crucial in reducing mortality and health disparities in this vulnerable population.
See “Poverty tops smoking as a major death risk” (May 1, 2024)
