Chronic inflammation is emerging as a significant factor contributing to frailty, social disadvantage, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women, according to a recent study published in Communications Medicine.
The study, which analyzed blood samples from more than 2,000 women aged between 37 and 84 years, examined 74 inflammation-related proteins and explored how they correlate with frailty, area-level social deprivation, and CVD risk. The findings suggest a strong association between inflammation and both social and health vulnerabilities.
Researchers identified 10 inflammatory proteins that were notably linked to both frailty and living in deprived areas. Among these, four proteins involved in cellular signaling, growth, and movement – TNFSF14, HGF, CDCP1, and CCL11, were found to also be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Yu Lin, a Research Associate in the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, emphasized the innovative approach taken in this study. “To better understand how frailty and deprivation contribute to heart disease, we screened a large number of inflammatory proteins in the blood. By identifying overlapping biological markers linked to both social and health vulnerability, we were able to uncover a potential shared pathway between these risk factors,” Dr. Lin said.
One of the key findings of the study was the role of CDCP1, a protein significantly linked to future heart disease events such as narrowed or blocked arteries. This discovery supports the idea that certain inflammatory proteins may act as a biological bridge, connecting social inequality, ageing, and heart disease.
The study team also validated these findings in a separate group of women to ensure the results were consistent across different populations. Dr. Cristina Menni, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Epidemiology at King’s College London, stated, “Frailty, social disadvantage, and heart disease often go hand in hand, but the biological mechanisms linking them are not yet fully understood. Our findings suggest that the stress of socioeconomic hardship may trigger harmful inflammation that damages health over time.”
The identification of these inflammatory proteins could pave the way for new biomarkers to help clinicians identify women at greater risk of heart disease, especially those from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds. This could potentially lead to earlier interventions and more targeted medical treatments.
In light of these findings, the study suggests a dual approach to reducing cardiovascular disease risk in at-risk populations. Not only could medical treatments that target inflammation prove valuable, but social policies that address health inequalities may also play a crucial role in improving health outcomes.
If these results are confirmed, they could open up new avenues for public health interventions, focusing on both medical strategies to combat inflammation and broader social policies aimed at addressing the root causes of health inequalities.
