Student debt can damage your health, new research suggests

Scientists describe student debt as a “massive finaicial burden” which can lead to heart disease

Graduates who struggle to pay off student loans into middle age have been found to be more prone to heart disease (PA Wire)

Graduates who struggle to pay off student loans into middle age are more prone to heart disease, according to a new study.

The University of Colorado study found people who failed to pay student debt between young adulthood and early mid-life were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Scientist say the trend undermines the usual health benefits of a university education.

The study’s lead author Dr Adam Lippert, of the University of Colorado, explained: “As the cost of college has increased, students and their families have taken on more debt to get to and stay in college.

Graduates who struggle to pay off student loans into middle age have been found to be more prone to heart disease (PA Wire)

“Consequently, student debt is a massive financial burden to so many in the United States, and yet we know little about the potential long term health consequences of this debt.

“Previous research showed that, in the short term, student debt burdens were associated with self reported health and mental health, so we were interested in understanding whether student debt was associated with cardiovascular illness among adults in early mid-life.”

The US team analysed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).

More than 20,000 participants were tracked from age 12 up to the age of 44. A subset of 4,193 respondents underwent medical examinations that were carried out at home.

A measurement tool called the Framingham Risk was used, which estimates the chance of developing cardiovascular disease over the next 30 years of life.

It is based on sex, age, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes diagnosis and body mass index (BMI).

The researchers also looked at levels of a blood chemical called C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a sign of chronic or systemic inflammation.

The study found individuals who failed to pay student debt between young adulthood and early mid-life were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD). (PA)

Those who consistently had debt or took on debt had higher CVD risk scores than those who had never been in debt and those who had paid off their debt.

Respondents who paid off their debt had significantly lower CVD risk scores than those who were never in debt.

Clinically significant CRP value estimates were identified for those who took on new debt or were consistently in debt between young adulthood and early mid-life.

These estimates exceeded their counterparts who never had debt or paid it off. Race or ethnicity had no impact on the results.

Dr Lippert said: “Our study respondents came of age and went to college at a time when student debt was rapidly rising with an average debt of around $25,000 (£20,000) for four year college graduates.

“It has risen more since then, leaving young cohorts with more student debt than any before them.

People who paid off debt had significantly lower CVD risk scores than those never in debt, according to study analyses. (PA)

“Unless something is done to reduce the costs of going to college and forgive outstanding debts, the health consequences of climbing student loan debt are likely to grow.”

Participants were split into four groups: 37 per cent never had student debt, 12 per cent had paid it off, 28 per cent took on new debt in young adulthood, and 24 per cent were consistently in debt.

However, further analyses suggested there were health benefits for those who complete a degree, even if they acquire student debt. These were diminished relative to non-debtors.

Dr Lippert said the findings indicated that debt-financed education has potential population health implications.

Although the evidence was clear on the economic and health returns from a university degree, the advantages come at a cost for borrowers, he added.

In the UK, courses can cost more than £9,000 a year. Those who start university next year may be paying off their loans for 40 years under new government plans.

Labour has said the new student repayment plan will hit the worst off hardest - with lower earning graduates affected most.