A large study funded by the British Medical Research Council found a strong correlation, second in importance only to smoking, including an IQ below average and a higher rate of cardiovascular disease and total mortality.
The findings, published in the February issue of the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, were taken from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study, a population study to show the influence of social factors on health. The study was based on a sample of 1,145 men and women about 55 years and on data collected over a period of 20 years starting in 1987. The factors considered were height, weight, blood pressure, smoking, activity physical, educational level and employment, the IQ was measured with a test of general cognitive ability.
When the data were applied to a statistical model to quantify the associations of nine risk factors with mortality from cardiovascular events, the results showed that the most important factor was smoking, followed by a low IQ. Comment
the national spokesman of the ESC (European Society of Cardiology): "This study is a very important medical and social. That a low rate of education could be associated with a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events has been reported previously by several studies. However, the real novelty of this analysis is that the low IQ appears to remain associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular disease even when the association is "correct" for all other known risk factors. This would suggest for the first time that low IQ may be an independent cardiovascular risk factor, like smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. If this information is confirmed, future cardiovascular prevention interventions should focus not only in correcting the traditional cardiovascular risk profile (eg, blood pressure control, cholesterol reduction and elimination of circulating smoking status) but also to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in general, emphasizing the consequences and preventive measures. "
Source: ESC
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