The SES Gradient of Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Longevity Areas in China

Melanie Sereny, Duke University
Linda K. George, Duke University
Xiaoming Shi, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC)
Zhaoxue Yin, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC)

This paper uses recently collected survey and biomarker data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The sample is comprised of older adults (ages 60-100+) living in seven designated “longevity areas” in China. We examine the SES gradient of biomarkers (obtained from blood and urine samples) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Our data are unique, a population survey with relatively rich biomarker data collected in a developing country. The biomarkers used as dependent variables in our study include: waistline, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, blood pressure, and glycosolated hemoglobin. Results from regression analysis show that educated individuals are more likely to have high triglycerides and a high cholesterol ratio giving evidence of a positive relationship between biomarkers of CVD risk (worse cardiovascular health) and SES, the opposite of the gradient that we see in developed countries.