JAHA at Scientific Sessions 2023: Moving Toward Social Justice in Cardiovascular Health in the United States

J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Nov 19;13(22):e037936. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.037936. Epub 2024 Nov 7.

Abstract

Attention to social justice is essential to improving cardiovascular health outcomes. In the absence of social justice, equitable cardiovascular health is impossible. This viewpoint provides a brief synopsis of the 2023 Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA)-sponsored session titled "Moving Towards Social Justice in Cardiovascular Health." We define social justice and summarize the burden of cardiovascular disease inequity in the United States. We also highlight strategies for achieving social justice, including addressing workforce diversity, integrating social determinants into cardiovascular research, designing cardiovascular interventions to close the equity gap, and improving inclusivity in cardiovascular disease trials.

Keywords: cardiovascular health and disease; clinical trial inclusion; health equity; social justice.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • American Heart Association
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / therapy
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Social Determinants of Health*
  • Social Justice*
  • United States