Elvis facts

Sold more than one billion records worldwide 131 albums and singles went gold, platinum, or multi-platinum in US alone 149 songs on the Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart in US Starred in 30 feature films One of Hollywood's top box office draws and highest paid actors for many years

At the time of his death, he was obese and was taking dozens of prescription drugs.

But in a paper for Australian and New Zealand heart specialists, Professor George Davey-Smith, an epidemiologist from Bristol University said Elvis's childhood problems could also have contributed to his heart problems.

Professor Davey-Smith told The Australian newspaper: "Elvis had a very low birthweight, being the survivor of twins, and was raised in abject and grinding poverty."

Poverty

"We also know that people who have a low birthweight and low childhood weight who become obese in later life are at substantially greater risk of cardiovascular disease."

Professor Davey-Smith also told the newspaper that poorer people were up to three times more susceptible to heart disease and stroke.

I don't know if you could say Elvis was destined to die from a heart-related problem, but certainly the dice was loaded

Andrew Tonkin, Australian Heart Foundation

He said a UK study which looked at death and social status in thousands of people in a 70 year period had demonstrated the link between ill-health and inequality.

Andrew Tonkin of the Australian Heart Foundation told the newspaper: "I don't know if you could say Elvis was destined to die from a heart-related problem, but certainly the dice was loaded."