Abstract P275: Food Insecurity is Associated with Increased Cardiovascular Risk in US Adults

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity has been associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes in US adults; however, our knowledge of the association between food security status and overall cardiovascular risk in US adults is limited. Objective: To examine the association between food security status and cardiovascular risk in US adults. Methods: We performed cross-sectional analysis on 7,439 adults aged ≥ 20 years (mean age 44.12±12.97 years, 52% male, 73% Non-Hispanic White) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012. Food security was measured using the validated 18-item US Household Food Security Survey Module. Cardiovascular risk was measured using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) criteria, with each component being categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. Ideal vs. non-ideal levels of each component and the total number of ideal LS7 components (0-4 and 5-7) were compared by food security status. Multivariate logistic regression models were used and adjusted for sociodemographic, economic, and health characteristics. Results: A total of 13% of adults were food insecure and 16% attained ideal scores on 5-7 LS7 components. Compared to food secure, food insecure adults were less likely to be non-Hispanic White, have college education, married, have health insurance coverage, and report excellent health. Food insecure adults were significantly less likely to have ideal scores on 5-7 LS7 components than food secure adults (14.5% vs. 17.7%, p=0.04). In logistic regression models, food insecure had significantly lower odds of attaining ideal scores on 5-7 LS7 components [OR=0.72 (95% CI 0.56-0.92)]. Food insecure were also less likely to have ideal scores on total cholesterol [OR=0.78 (0.62-0.98)], blood glucose [OR=0.77 (0.64-0.92)], BMI [OR=0.82 (0.70-0.97)], and smoking [OR=0.60 (0.47-0.74)]. Conclusion: Food insecure adults are at increased cardiovascular risk. Prevention efforts should be emphasized in this vulnerable population.