How do socioeconomic trajectories experienced during early adulthood contribute to the development of cardiometabolic health in young adults?

IntroductionSocioeconomic position has been strongly associated with cardiovascular health. However, little is known about the short-term health impacts of socioeconomic exposures during early adulthood. In this study we describe distinct socioeconomic trajectories of early adulthood (age 16-24y), and assess associations of these trajectories with measures of cardiometabolic health at age 24y. MethodsParticipants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), with data across age 16y to 24y (2007-2017) were included (n=7,568). Longitudinal latent class analysis identified socioeconomic trajectories, based on education and employment data across ages 16-24y. Cardiometabolic outcomes at age 24y comprised anthropometric, vascular, metabolic and cardiovascular structure and function measures. We modelled differences in cardiometabolic outcomes at age 24y across the socioeconomic trajectory classes, adjusting for childhood socioeconomic position, adolescent health behaviours and adolescent health. ResultsFour early adulthood socioeconomic trajectories were identified: (1) Higher Education (41% of the population), (2) Extended Education (9%), (3) Part-Time Employment (21%), and (4) Early Employment (29%). Associations between socioeconomic trajectory and cardiometabolic outcomes differed by sex. Among males, the Higher Education and Extended Education classes showed a healthier cardiometabolic profile, and the Part-time Employment class the least healthy. Among females there was less clear distinction between the classes, and the pattern across different outcomes was not consistent. ConclusionThe newly identified Part-time Employment class showed the least healthy cardiometabolic profile, and further research should focus on this group to understand the exposures contributing to poor cardiometabolic health in this sector of the population.