Racial Residential Segregation and Race Differences in Ideal Cardiovascular Health among Young Men.

Morris Weinberger,Leah Frerichs,Roland J. Thorpe,Samuel L. K. Baxter,Asheley C. Skinner,Richard Chung

doi:10.3390/ijerph18157755

Abstract

Background: Race disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) related morbidity and mortality are evident among men. While previous studies show health in young adulthood and racial residential segregation (RRS) are important factors for CVD risk, these factors have not been widely studied in male populations. We sought to examine race differences in ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) among young men (ages 24–34) and whether RRS influenced this association. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from young men who participated in Wave IV (2008) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 5080). The dichotomous outcome, achieving ideal CVH, was defined as having ≥4 of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 targets. Race (Black/White) and RRS (proportion of White residents in census tract) were the independent variables. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results: Young Black men had lower odds of achieving ideal CVH (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.92) than young White men. However, RRS did not have a significant effect on race differences in ideal CVH until the proportion of White residents was ≥55%. Conclusions: Among young Black and White men, RRS is an important factor to consider when seeking to understand CVH and reduce future cardiovascular risk.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for all adults in the US, with the death rate being higher in men than women [1,2]
We explored whether race differences in ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) existed along racial residential segregation (RRS) thresholds
RRS did not have a significant effect on race differences in ideal CVH until the proportion of White residents was ≥55%

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for all adults in the US, with the death rate being higher in men than women [1,2]. Men’s excess burden can be seen in higher rates of CVD-related morbidity, risk-taking, and poor health care engagement compared to women [3]. Given the population-level CVD burden in the US and recognition of the importance of early life years in disease trajectories, the American Heart Association (AHA) expanded. CVD prevention efforts to focus on maintaining health. 7 targets, termed Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), with the goal of improving the cardiovascular health (CVH) of Americans by 20% [4].

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