Heart Disease More Common in Past Redlined Areas Linked to Limited Access to Healthy Foods

According to the American Heart Association, the environments and conditions in which people live, work and play — factors known as social determinants of health — have a significant role in the development of cardiovascular disease and vary across racial and ethnic groups. Social determinants of health include economic stability, neighbourhood safety, education, access to quality health care, access to healthy food and other factors.

Specifically, the analysis found:

• An average of 11.8% of people in redlined neighbourhoods had Type 2 diabetes; an average of 31.9% had high blood pressure; an average of 6% had heart disease; and 31.8% had obesity
• A direct association was found among communities that were affected by both redlining and reduced access to healthy food resulting in higher rates of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and coronary heart disease
• An indirect association between redlining and Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and obesity due to reduced access to healthy food.

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