BRIGHTEN Heart: Reducing Disparities in Late Life Depression and Metabolic Syndrome

Chicago has been characterized as one of America's most segregated cities, with many neighborhoods characterized by black and Hispanic populations living in concentrated pockets of poverty. In addition to lowered socioeconomic status, these neighborhoods are also characterized by remarkable health disparities relative to wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods only a few miles away. Disparities in access to health services contribute to these poorer health outcomes, but are not wholly explanatory.

For cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the US, both black and Hispanic adults have elevated rates of many major risk factors including physical inactivity, obesity, elevated levels of Fasting Blood Glucose, and dyslipidemia. Blacks also have elevated rates of hypertension, and experience well-documented excess mortality rates. Experts are anticipating that, given high prevalence of risk factors, most importantly the metabolic syndrome, similar disparities in cardiovascular mortality may soon emerge for Hispanics as well.

Beyond cardiovascular disease, these populations face psychosocial challenges such as poverty, unemployment, societal racism, and high rates of major and traumatic life stress, all of which can contribute to high rates of depression and anxiety symptoms. Even the physical environment adds to the levels of stress: empty buildings that can become criminal and drug havens, boarded up storefronts, lack of groceries providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables (so-called "food deserts"). Disparities in access to health services, and these environmental conditions, as well as personal and familial factors associated with poverty are related to health disparity outcomes in complex ways that are only beginning to be understood.

Linkages between depression and cardiovascular disease have been well documented. These appear to be more than associations, but may reflect causal relationships through a number of proposed pathways, including decreased physical activity, poor dietary habits, medication non-adherence, and a direct impact on inflammatory mediators.

Aging is often associated with worsening of health disparities. The most vulnerable subpopulation among the urban poor are the elderly, as they are naturally vulnerable due to old age, compounded by lifetime exposure to poverty, and diminished defenses against violence in their homes or neighborhoods, including routes to health service providers.