The Effect of Low Socioeconomic Status on Inflammation and Health

Evidence-based practice guides the care nurses provide. With their commitment to a holistic approach to understanding an individual’s health status, should evoke many concerns with patients’ accumulation of risks. Factors, such as low socioeconomic status (SES), are associated with higher rates of stress, inflammation, and chronic disease. As we begin to look further into preventing and treating chronic disease, we aim to identify an upstream biomarker of inflammation. Through a literature review, the relationship between low SES and stress as increasing one’s risk for chronic disease was established with a strong connection. Additionally, the adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, and their ratio, which are upstream biomarkers are influential in downstream inflammatory actions. Using a lifecourse theory approach, we identify interventions at multiple interpersonal and structural levels to mitigate the disparities associated with SES. Assuming that this is an appropriate tool to be used for research and policy, it could be useful in both the clinical as well as government settings for systemic improvement using an evidence-based approach. Additional research is needed to fully gain understanding about the inflammation pathway of leptin and adiponectin. This is discussed in our paper further so targeted interventions can begin to be formulated for use in clinical practice and public policy.