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. 2018 Jul;28(7):489-492.
doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.01.011. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

High neighborhood incarceration rate is associated with cardiometabolic disease in nonincarcerated black individuals

Matthew L Topel  1 , Heval M Kelli  1 , Tené T Lewis  2 , Sandra B Dunbar  3 , Viola Vaccarino  2 , Herman A Taylor  4 , Arshed A Quyyumi  5
Affiliations

High neighborhood incarceration rate is associated with cardiometabolic disease in nonincarcerated black individuals

Matthew L Topel et al. Ann Epidemiol. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the association between residence in neighborhoods with high rates of incarceration and cardiometabolic disease among nonincarcerated individuals.

Methods: We used data from two community cohort studies (n = 1368) in Atlanta, Georgia-META-Health and Predictive Health (2005-2012)-to assess the association between neighborhood incarceration rate and cardiometabolic disease, adjusting for individual-level and neighborhood-level factors. We also examined the interaction between race and neighborhood incarceration rate.

Results: Individuals living in neighborhoods with high incarceration rates were more likely to have dyslipidemia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-2.09) and metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.07-2.59) in fully adjusted models. Interactions between race and neighborhood incarceration rate were significant; black individuals living in neighborhoods with high incarceration rates were more likely to have hypertension (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.01-2.49), dyslipidemia (OR = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.12-2.80), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.09-2.99).

Conclusions: Black individuals living in neighborhoods with high rates of incarceration have worse cardiometabolic health profiles. Criminal justice reform may help reduce race-specific health disparities in the United States.

Keywords: Cardiovascular health; Mass incarceration; Racial disparities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Odds of cardiometabolic disease for individuals in neighborhoods with high incarceration rates. Black subjects living in neighborhoods with high incarceration rates had significantly increased odds of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome in fully-adjusted models. IFG = impaired fasting glucose.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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