Pabayo, RomanKawachi, IchiroGilman, Stephen2019-08-302015Pabayo, Roman, Ichiro Kawachi, and Stephen E. Gilman. 2015. “US State-Level Income Inequality and Risks of Heart Attack and Coronary Risk Behaviors: Longitudinal Findings.” International Journal of Public Health 60 (5): 573–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0678-7.0303-84081420-911Xhttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41288296To examine prospectively the association between US state income inequality and incidence of heart attack.We used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (n = 34,445). Respondents completed interviews at baseline (2001-2002) and follow-up (2004-2005). Weighted multilevel modeling was used to determine if US state-level income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) at baseline was a predictor of heart attack during follow-up, controlling for individual-level and state-level covariates.In comparison to residents of US states in the lowest quartile of income inequality, those living in the second [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.71, 95 % CI 1.16-2.53)], third (AOR = 1.81, 95 % CI 1.28-2.57), and fourth (AOR = 2.04, 95 % CI 1.26-3.29) quartiles were more likely to have a heart attack. Similar findings were obtained when we excluded those who had a heart attack prior to baseline.This study is one of the first to empirically show the longitudinal relationship between income inequality and coronary heart disease. Living in a state with higher income inequality increases the risk for heart attack among US adults.en-USJournal Article2019-08-3010.1007/s00038-015-0678-7