B3283 - Early adulthood socioeconomic transitions and the development of inequalities in cardiovascular health - 15/04/2019

B number: 
B3283
Principal applicant name: 
Eleanor Winpenny | MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Laura Howe
Title of project: 
Early adulthood socioeconomic transitions and the development of inequalities in cardiovascular health
Proposal summary: 

There is strong patterning of cardiovascular disease according to socio-economic position (SEP), typically based on education level, type of occupation or level of income. This research aims to assess the contribution of childhood and early adulthood SEP to inequalities in risk factors related to cardiovascular disease. To understand early adulthood SEP we will investigate the pathways that young adults take through different levels of education, different types of employment, and time not in education, employment or training during early adulthood (age 18-25), which will together contribute to their overall SEP over this period. We will look at the relationships between groups of the population experiencing different early adulthood SEP and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as being overweight, having high blood pressure or different levels of blood lipids.

Impact of research: 
This research will help us to understand the importance of early adulthood in the development of cardiovascular disease. It will provide further information on the populations at risk for reduction in cardiovascular health over this period, and suggest opportunities for intervention. For example if the research identifies those who leave work early and move into low-grade work as particularly at risk for decreases in cardiovascular health during early adulthood, this would suggest a particular need for interventions to address this population group. This research will also provide a starting point for further investigation into changes in behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular health during early adulthood, for example changes in diet or physical activity which may take place over this age range.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 2 April, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 2 April, 2019
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Hypertension, Obesity, Statistical methods, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc., Biomarkers - e.g. cotinine, fatty acids, haemoglobin, etc., Blood pressure, BMI, Cardiovascular, Metabolic - metabolism, Social science