Poverty raises the risks of heart surgery

• Narrowing health gap relies on 'good start' in life • Smoking, obesity and diabetes not only factorsPeople who live in deprived areas of the country are more likely to die after heart surgery than those from more affluent places, even after allowing for the effects of smoking, obesity and diabetes, a new study shows today.The research suggests that health inequalities have deeper roots than lifestyle choices. An editorial that accompanies the study in the British Medical Journal says poverty needs to be tackled if the health of the entire nation is to improve."Poverty is commonly understood to be a financial problem, but it can also cause social, familial, cultural, educational, environmental, emotional and aspirational problems," say cardiologist Martin Denvir and cardiothoracic surgeon Vipin Zamvar from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary."Narrowing the gap between the health of the rich and the poor can be achieved only by dealing with the root causes...

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