Abstract 14087: Physical Activity is Associated With Monocytes and Monocyte Subsets in Low-Resourced Neighborhoods: Data From the Step It Up Physical Activity Intervention

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; those living in lower-resourced neighborhoods have higher CVD risk in part due to limited PA access. Monocyte subsets (classical, intermediate, and non-classical) with their platelet aggregates (PlAgg) are key in CVD, but less is known about relationships between PA and monocytes. We investigated associations between PA and monocyte subsets with PlAgg in African American (AA) women at risk for CVD living in resource-limited Washington, DC areas. Methods: Participants were enrolled in Step It Up, a technology-enabled, community-engaged PA intervention. Baseline PA was measured as daily step counts using a FitBit Charge 2. Monocyte subsets and PlAgg were measured in fasting blood samples by flow cytometry. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine relationships between PA and monocytes adjusting for BMI and ASCVD 10-year risk score. We examined neighborhood deprivation index (NDI), a 2018 Census-tract based measure of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, as a moderator of associations between PA and monocytes. Results: The study cohort was a sample of AA women with overweight/obesity enrolled in Step It Up (N=106, age=57±12 y, BMI=34.8±6.3kg/m2). Higher baseline PA associated with monocyte subsets, but not overall monocyte presence (Table). Furthermore, higher baseline PA negatively associated with PlAgg on all monocytes. PA and monocyte subsets were most associated among those residing in higher deprivation neighborhoods (Table). Conclusion: Baseline PA was associated with monocyte subsets and lower monocyte-PlAgg formation among AA women living in lower-resourced conditions. Future work should examine the relationship between PA changes and changes in monocyte subsets in community engaged PA interventions like Step It Up, particularly among those residing in limited resource communities.