Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Financial Stress and Metabolic Abnormalities.
Wan-Chin Kuo, Linda D Oakley, Roger L Brown and 4 others
PMID 33630535WHAT IT FOUND
Higher financial stress was associated with abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia, but not type 2 diabetes or hypertension, in 457 mostly White middle-aged and older adults.
Among women, financial stress was also associated with prediabetes; among men, with hypertriglyceridemia.
Key findings
01Financial stress was associated with the prevalence of abdominal obesity (OR = 1.577; p = .001), metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.637; p < .001), and dyslipidemia (OR = 1.384; p = .042) after controlling for age, comorbidities, alcohol use, smoking, and depressive symptoms.
02One standard deviation increase in financial stress was associated with 40% higher odds of abdominal obesity, 42% higher odds of metabolic syndrome, and 26% higher odds of dyslipidemia.
03Among men, financial stress was associated with hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.671; p = .035); among women, it was associated with prediabetes (OR = 1.674; p = .027), abdominal obesity (OR = 2.178; p < .001), metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.098; p < .001), and dyslipidemia (OR = 1.626; p = .008).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that financial stress caused the metabolic abnormalities. The sample was 96% White, so the results may not apply to other racial or ethnic groups. The financial stress survey and laboratory assessment were done at different times, and the interval between them was adjusted for rather than fixed.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The publication types indicate NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that financial stress causes metabolic abnormalities or that reducing financial stress will lower cardiometabolic risk. The study was cross-sectional, so it can only show association. The sample was 96% White, so do not assume the same pattern applies to other racial or ethnic groups.