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Study with 280 thousand people shows that financial difficulties can increase the risk of death more than smoking and directly impact heart health.
In 2025, researchers affiliated with Mayo Clinic in the United States released results from a study that analyzed data from over 280 thousand patients and provided a new perspective on the factors influencing cardiovascular health. According to a study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings and released by Elsevier, individuals exposed to social determinants of health, particularly financial difficulties and food insecurity, showed significant impacts on cardiac aging and mortality risk, in some cases equaling or even surpassing traditional clinical factors.
The survey was conducted based on large-scale clinical and social information collected, including variables such as income, access to food, housing stability, and medical history. Public data derived from this analysis indicate that financial stress was associated with an approximately 60% increase in the risk of death, while smoking was associated with an increase of about 27% during the same analyzed period.
Social determinants are now treated as clinical risk factors
Traditionally, cardiovascular medicine focuses its analysis on factors such as cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking. However, the Mayo Clinic study reinforces a paradigm shift already observed in other research: the inclusion of social factors as critical elements in risk assessment.
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Among the main determinants analyzed are:
- financial insecurity
- difficulties accessing quality food
- housing instability
- limited access to health services
These elements, when combined, create an environment of chronic stress that can directly affect the functioning of the body, including the cardiovascular system.
The research suggests that the absence of economic stability is not just a social condition but a factor with measurable biological impact.
Chronic stress alters body functioning and affects the heart
The mechanism behind this relationship involves chronic stress. Prolonged situations of worry about money constantly activate the body’s stress response system, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This process leads to the continuous release of hormones such as:
- cortisol
- adrenaline
When these hormones remain elevated for long periods, they can cause increased blood pressure, systemic inflammation, and metabolic changes, factors directly associated with the development of heart diseases.
Additionally, chronic stress can affect sleep, diet, and overall behavior, further amplifying the risks.
Comparison with smoking requires careful interpretation
Despite the impact of the data, it is important to correctly understand what the study shows. The survey indicates that, within the analyzed scope, financial difficulties showed a statistical association with a higher risk of death than smoking.
However, this does not mean that smoking is no longer one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Smoking continues to be widely recognized by institutions such as the World Health Organization as one of the leading preventable causes of death in the world.
What the study highlights is that social factors can reach levels of impact comparable to or even greater in certain contexts, especially when associated with other conditions of vulnerability.
Financial impact influences habits and access to health
Another relevant point is that financial pressure does not act in isolation. It directly influences people’s behavior and living conditions. Among the observed effects are:
- increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, generally cheaper
- reduction in physical activity
- difficulties accessing medical follow-up
- delays in diagnoses and treatments
These factors create a cycle in which economic conditions impact lifestyle, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This indirect relationship reinforces the complexity of the problem, which goes beyond a single isolated factor.
Data reinforces inequality in cardiovascular health
The study also highlights how cardiovascular health is directly linked to social inequalities. People in situations of economic vulnerability tend to: have greater exposure to risk factors; receive less preventive care; and show worse health indicators over time.
This inequality creates a scenario in which social and economic factors become as relevant determinants as traditional medical conditions.
The analysis broadens the debate on public policies and access to health, emphasizing the need for more integrated approaches.
Change in approach can impact health policies
The results of the study have direct implications for the health system. Traditionally, cardiovascular prevention strategies focus on:
- blood pressure control
- cholesterol reduction
- combating smoking
However, the inclusion of social factors as part of risk assessment may lead to changes in how patients are treated and monitored. This may include:
- screening for social vulnerability in medical consultations
- integration with social assistance programs
- policies aimed at food security and financial stability
Relationship between money and health is not new, but gains quantitative evidence
The link between economic conditions and health has been discussed for decades. However, studies like that of the Mayo Clinic bring an additional element: the quantification of this impact.
By demonstrating, based on data from hundreds of thousands of people, that financial pressure can significantly elevate the risk of death, the research transforms a qualitative perception into robust statistical evidence. This type of data strengthens the argument that health should be analyzed in a multidimensional way.
The debate on social determinants of health has gained traction in various countries, especially in contexts of rising living costs, inflation, and economic inequality.
International organizations have highlighted that: economic factors directly influence life expectancy, access to basic resources impacts health indicators, and public policies can reduce risks associated with vulnerability.
In this scenario, the study reinforces a global trend to broaden the perspective on what truly determines the health of populations.
The results presented by the Mayo Clinic indicate an important change in how to understand risks to heart health.
By demonstrating that concern about money can significantly elevate the risk of death, the study positions financial pressure as a central factor in the analysis of cardiovascular health, alongside traditional elements such as smoking.
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