Abstract P2060: Life's Simple 7 for Cardiovascular and Total Health: How are We Doing?

Abstract

Background: Life’s Simple 7 (LS7; diet, physical activity, smoking, BMI, BP, cholesterol, glucose) was developed by AHA to track and improve CV risk and outcomes. Individuals with high vs. low LS7 scores have 30%-80% lower incidence rates of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia, kidney and lung disease, and cancer. Since LS7 serves as a population health marker, national trends in demographic groups can inform efforts to optimize health and health equity. Methods: LS7 was assessed in 35,562 NHANES 1999-2016 participants 20 years and older, free of CVD with all LS7 data and either non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) or Hispanic. Data were disaggregated by time, age, race / ethnicity and sex. For each LS7 item, 0 points were assigned for poor, 1 point for intermediate, and 2 points for optimal levels; maximum LS7 score = 14. Results: LS7 scores fell with age, were higher in NHWs and Hispanics than NHBs, and higher in women than men (Table). Conclusions: Demographic factors were associated with large differences in LS7 scores. No group had optimal scores or is improving with time. LS7 scores are sharply lower in middle-age and older than younger adults, in NHBs than NHWs and Hispanics, and in men than women. Hispanics had similar LS7 scores to NHWs, despite less income, education and health insurance. Findings highlight the need for culturally tailored and complementary public and population health programs beginning early in life to promote healthy lifestyle patterns and timely access to and adherence with evidence-based care. Successful programs could reduce the age-related rise in cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases and improve health equity.