Daijiworld Media Network – London
London, Aug 5: Chronic inflammation may serve as a biological link between frailty, social disadvantage, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a recent study published in Communications Medicine.
The research, conducted by King’s College London, examined 74 inflammation-related proteins in blood samples of over 2,000 women aged between 37 and 84 years. It aimed to understand how chronic inflammation intersects with ageing, poverty, and heart disease risk.
Researchers identified 10 inflammatory proteins associated with both frailty and residence in deprived areas. Notably, four of these proteins—TNFSF14, HGF, CDCP1, and CCL11—were also strongly linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.
“To better understand how frailty and deprivation contribute to heart disease, we took a data-driven approach, screening a large number of inflammatory proteins in the blood,” said Dr. Yu Lin, Research Associate in the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology. “We uncovered a potential shared pathway between these risk factors.”
Among the findings, CDCP1 stood out as a significant marker, associated with future heart disease events such as narrowed or blocked arteries.
The study’s results were validated in an independent cohort of women to confirm consistency across populations.
“Frailty, social disadvantage, and heart disease often go hand in hand, but the biological mechanisms linking them are not yet fully understood,” noted Dr. Cristina Menni, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Epidemiology. “Our findings suggest that the stress of socioeconomic hardship may trigger harmful inflammation that damages health over time.”
The study proposes that these proteins could serve as biomarkers to help clinicians identify individuals at higher cardiovascular risk. Researchers believe a dual public health strategy—medical treatments targeting inflammation alongside social policies tackling inequality—may prove effective in lowering CVD risk among vulnerable populations.