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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Matthew L. Topel, Emory University; Heval M. Kelli, Emory University; Tene Lewis, Emory University; Sandra Dunbar, Emory University; Viola Vaccarino, Emory University; Herman Taylor, Emory University; Arshed Quyyumi, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-07-01
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 Elsevier Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.01.011
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Annals of Epidemiology
• ISSN: 1047-2797
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: 489
• End Page: 492
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (UL1 RR025008, U01 HL079156-01, T32 HL130025-02) and the American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network on Disparities (Grant 0000031288).
• Keywords: MASS INCARCERATION; STRESS; RISK; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; HEALTH; Racial disparities; Cardiovascular health; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Mass incarceration
• Research Categories: Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

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.