Cardiovascular Health Components Research Articles

Association between the AHA life's essential 8 and prediabetes/diabetes: a cross-sectional NHANES study.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently introduced the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) to improve cardiovascular health (CVH). However, the association between LE8 and the risk of prediabetes or diabetes is not yet fully understood. Consequently, this study aims to assess the association between CVH, as evaluated by LE8, and the risk of prediabetes and diabetes. This cross-sectional study encompassed 7,739 participants aged ≥20 years from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). The CVH of participants was evaluated using the LE8, combining four health behaviors and three health factors. Glucose metabolic status categories included normal glucose metabolism, prediabetes including isolated impaired fasting glucose, isolated impaired glucose tolerance, both IFG and IGT, and diabetes. The associations between CVH and prediabetes and diabetes were analyzed using logistic regression, linear regression, restricted cubic splines, and subgroup analyses. Among 7,739 participants, 1,949 had iIFG, 1,165 were diagnosed with iIGT, 799 were IFG+IGT, and 537 were diagnosed with diabetes. After multivariable adjustments, CVH scores were inversely associated with prediabetes and diabetes, with the most robust inverse association observed between IFG+IGT and CVH across all prediabetes subgroups. Of all CVH components not directly in the causal pathway, body mass index (BMI) had the most robust associations with prediabetes and diabetes. Subgroup analyses indicated that the negative correlation between CVH and prediabetes was stronger among those with university or higher education. CVH, as defined by LE8, showed a significant negative association with prediabetes and diabetes.

Abstract P394: Associations of Street-View Greenspace Exposure With Cardiovascular Health (Life’s Essential 8) Among Women in Midlife

Introduction: Many women experience suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) during midlife. Greenspace exposure has been inversely associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes and risk factors, but the majority of studies use satellite-based assessment of greenspace and limited evidence exists regarding overall CVH. Methods: We performed a longitudinal analysis of women in the Project Viva cohort based in Massachusetts. We applied deep learning algorithms to Google street view images to derive metrics of visible greenspace within 500m of participant’s residential addresses in 2012-2016 (median 46y). We calculated %greenspace from trees, grass, and other greenspace (i.e. plants, fields, flowers) within each image, separately and total combined, and transformed each into z-scores. At the Mid-Life Visit ~5 years later (51y), participants completed questionnaires and research staff measured their height, weight, blood pressure, and blood levels of glucose, HbA1c and cholesterol. We calculated CVH score using Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) algorithm (0-100 points, higher=better), that includes 8 components of CVH, including 4 behavioral measures (heart healthy levels of diet, physical activity, sleep, avoidance of nicotine) and 4 biomedical measures (body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose). We used linear regression models adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, and an index score of socioeconomic status comprising both individual and neighborhood metrics. Results: Among 678 participants, 68% were non-Hispanic White and 74% were college grads. In midlife, mean (SD) LE8 score was 76 (12) points. In unadjusted models, greater total %greenspace (per SD) was associated with higher overall CVH score (β 3.09; 95% CI 2.01, 4.17), as well as higher behavioral (β 2.71; CI 1.69, 3.73) and biomedical (β 3.09; CI 1.56, 4.62) sub-scores. Covariate adjustment attenuated these associations but they remained statistically significant for overall (β 1.88; CI 0.58, 3.19), behavioral (β 1.61; CI 0.44, 2.77) and biomedical (β 2.20; CI 0.31, 4.10) CVH scores. When disentangling the components of greenspace, %trees (adjβ 1.83; CI 0.54, 3.13) was associated with overall CVH, but %grass was non-significant (adjβ 0.75; CI -0.53, 2.02). Greater %trees was associated with higher scores for each CVH component in unadjusted models (except lipids): diet (β 1.64; CI 0.41, 2.86), physical activity (β 4.19; CI 1.61, 6.76), nicotine avoidance (β 2.07; CI 0.40, 3.75), sleep (β 3.50; CI 1.93, 5.08), BMI (β 6.51; CI 3.89, 9.14), blood pressure (β 2.39; CI 0.30, 4.48) and glucose (β 3.09; 1.36, 4.83). Covariate adjustment attenuated these associations to non-significance except for diet (β 2.33; CI 0.90, 3.75), BMI (β 3.08; 0.10, 6.06) and glucose (β 2.82; CI 0.73, 4.91). Conclusions: Greater street-view greenspace exposure, especially %trees, was associated with better CVH among women in midlife.

Abstract 52: Associations of Ideal Cardiovascular Health and Its Change With Cardiovascular-Kidney Outcomes in Young Adults

Introduction: The AHA recently highlighted the linkage of cardiovascular (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the importance of promoting cardiovascular health (CVH) to prevent them. We hypothesized that attaining ideal CVH score or improving it in young adulthood is associated with low risk of cardiovascular-kidney events, but data are scarce. Methods: We studied 3,836,283 participants of the Korean national health screening in 2009-2010 (baseline age 20-39 y) without prior CVD or CKD. Participants were categorized by the number of ideal CVH components met (range 0-6; diet data unavailable). A subgroup of 2,768,705 participants who underwent follow-up health exam in 2011-2014 (median 4.2 y from baseline) were stratified by combination of baseline and follow-up CVH scores. The primary outcome was a composite of CVD events, incident CKD, and death from kidney disease or CVD, until 31 Dec 2021 (Fig, footnote). Results: At baseline, participants had median age 31 y, and 38.2% were female. During a median follow-up of 12.1 y, 172,217 cardiovascular-kidney events occurred. The multivariable-adjusted risk of cardiovascular-kidney event decreased gradually (HR 0.81 per 1 p higher CVH score) with higher CVH scores (Fig, A). A CVH score of 6 was associated with a 65% lower risk of cardiovascular-kidney event than a CVH score of 0. An increase in CVH score from the baseline to follow-up exam was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular-kidney event (HR 0.87 per +1 p CVH score change). The risk was lowest in participants with high CVH at both baseline and follow-up; having high CVH at baseline, and improving from low to high CVH, were also associated with lower risk than those who maintained low CVH (Fig, B). Findings were similar for CKD and other individual endpoints. Conclusions: Achieving, maintaining, or improving ideal CVH during young adulthood was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular-kidney events, highlighting the importance of promoting early-life CVH for combined prevention of cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Abstract HUP6: Ideal Cardiovascular Health and the Intersectionality of Race/Ethnicity and Sexual Identity

Introduction: Disparities exist in cardiovascular health (CVH) by sexual identity and race/ethnicity separately, however an understanding of the intersectional effect of these identities has been limited. Objective: To evaluate differences in ideal CVH, as captured in the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 framework, across race/ethnicity and sexual identity. Methods: This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2007-2016). Non-institutionalized adults (18-59 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease/stroke and who were not pregnant at the time of the interview were included. Self-reported race/ethnicity was categorized as non-Hispanic Black (hereafter Black), Hispanic, non-Hispanic White (hereafter White), and another race. Self-reported sexual identity was categorized as straight and sexual minority (SM), which encompassed those who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or something else. The primary outcome was total CVH score (range 0 -100), which is the unweighted average of 8 CVH components, assessed using questionnaire, dietary, and physical examination data. Sex-stratified regression models were developed for the overall CVH score and CVH components, adjusting for age and study year. Results: The sample included 12,256 adults (mean age 39.6 years [SD 11.7]). While Black (ß= -4.9, 95% CI -7.7, -2.0), Hispanic (ß= -4.9, 95% CI -9.6, -0.2), and White (ß = -5.9, 95% CI -8.8, -3.0) SM female adults had lower total CVH scores compared to their straight counterparts, female participants of another race and SM male adults of any race/ethnicity did not. Black SM female individuals had less favorable nicotine (ß= -20.9, 95% CI -32.3, -9.4) and blood pressure (ß= -7.2, 95% CI -13.8, -0.6) scores compared with Black straight females. Hispanic SM female individuals had less favorable body mass index scores (ß= -15.6, 95% CI -28.0, -3.2) compared with Hispanic straight females. Conclusions: CVH differed across racial/ethnic identities in SM females but not SM males. Longitudinal studies are needed to identify mechanisms driving CVH disparities in Black and Hispanic SM females.

Koncept i značaj idealnog kardiovaskularnog zdravlja

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. In 2019, 17.9 million people died from CVD which accounts for 32% of all deaths globally. The burden of CVD in a given population is related to the cardiovascular health (CVH) of that particular population. In 2010, The American Heart Association initiated a new concept of ideal CVH focused on two groups, health behavior components (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, and diet) and health components (total cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Ideal CVH is defined as the simultaneous presence of seven ideal CVH components or "Life's Simple 7" (non-smoking, body mass index <25 kg/m2 , level of physical activity up to the achievement of the set goal, diet in accordance with national recommendations, blood pressure <120/80 mm Hg, total cholesterol <200 mg/dL and blood glucose level <100 mg/dL) in the absence of clinically manifested CVD. The prevalence of ideal CVH is low worldwide and is less than 1% in the USA, China and Spain, and the lowest values (0.02% and 0,1%) were recorded in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, respectively. The ideal CVH is inversely related to the incidence and mortality rates of CVD, as well as the overall mortality rates. People with a greater number of ideal CVH metrics (5, 6, and 7) are significantly less likely to suffer from CVD, ischemic heart disease and stroke, and have lower mortality from CVD, as well as lower total mortality compared to people without any or with only one ideal component of CVH. The status of CVH in the population is essential for predicting the risk of morbidity and mortality from CVD, which can be reduced by improving both health/biological and behavioral components of CVH.

Life's Essential 8 and Incident Hypertension Among US Hispanic/Latino Adults: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is a new metric to define cardiovascular health. We aimed to describe LE8 among Hispanics/Latinos and its association with incident hypertension. The HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) is a study of Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18 to 74 years from 4 US communities. At visit 1 (2008-2011), information on behavioral and clinical factors (diet, smoking status, physical activity, sleep duration, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting glucose, and medication use) were measured and used to estimate an LE8 score (range, 0-100) for 14 772 participants. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg, or self-reported use of antihypertensive medications. Among the 5667 participants free from hypertension at visit 1, we used Poisson regression models to determine the multivariable adjusted association between LE8 and incident hypertension in 2014 to 2017. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design of the study. Mean population age was 41 years, and 21.6% (SE, 0.7) had high cardiovascular health (LE8 ≥80). Mean LE8 score (68.2; SE, 0.3) varied by Hispanic/Latino background (P<0.05), ranging from 72.6 (SE, 0.3) among Mexican Americans to 62.2 (SE, 0.4) among Puerto Ricans. Each 10-unit decrement in LE8 score was associated with a 22% increased risk of hypertension over ≈6 years (incident density ratio, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.16-1.29]). Only 1 in 5 Hispanic/Latino adults had high cardiovascular health, and LE8 varied substantially across Hispanic/Latino background groups. Improvements in other components of cardiovascular health may result in a lower risk of developing hypertension.

Role of Sex in the Association of Socioeconomic Status With Cardiovascular Health in Black Americans: The Jackson Heart Study.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with cardiovascular health (CVH). Potential differences by sex in this association remain incompletely understood in Black Americans, where SES disparities are posited to be partially responsible for cardiovascular inequities. The association of SES measures (income, education, occupation, and insurance) with CVH scores was examined in the Jackson Heart Study. American Heart Association CVH components (non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, diet, tobacco use, physical activity, sleep, glycemia, and body mass index) were scored cross-sectionally at baseline (scale: 0-100). Differences in CVH and 95% CIs (Estimate, 95% CI) were calculated using linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, and discrimination. Heterogeneity by sex was assessed. Participants had a mean age of 54.8 years (SD 12.6 years), and 65% were women. Lower income, education, occupation (non-management/professional versus management/professional occupations), and insurance status (uninsured, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, or Medicare versus private insurance) were associated with lower CVH scores (all P<0.01). There was heterogeneity by sex, with greater magnitude of associations of SES measures with CVH in women versus men. The lowest education level (<high school) versus highest (>high school) was associated with 8.8-point lower (95% CI: -10.2 to -7.3) and 5.4-point lower (95% CI: -7.2 to -3.6) CVH scores in women and men, respectively (interaction P=0.003). The lowest (<25 000) versus highest level of income (≥$75 000) was associated with a greater reduction in CVH scores in women than men (interaction P=0.1142). Among Black Americans, measures of SES were associated with CVH, with a greater magnitude in women compared with men for education and income. Interventions aimed to address CVH through SES should consider the role of sex.

Association of Cardiovascular Health with Cognitive Function in US Older Adults: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Promoting cardiovascular health (CVH) by Life's Simple 7 is associated with better cognitive function. In 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) prompted Life's Essential 8 (LE8) to strengthen CVH assessment. This study investigated the association between the new CVH metrics assessed by LE8 and cognitive function, thus providing evidence for implementing LE8 in the primordial prevention of cognitive impairment. 2,050 participants aged 60 and older from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 were included. Cognitive function was measured by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). The overall and domain-specific cognitive function z-score was created. CVH score was calculated following AHA's advisory. The multivariable linear regression model estimated the associations. The CVH score assessed by LE8 was independently, positively, and linearly associated with the overall cognitive function. A per-10 point increase in CVH was associated with higher overall cognitive z-scores (β, 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03, 0.09), and participants with moderate (β, -0.14; 95% CI, -0.22, -0.05) and low CVH (β, -0.27; 95% CI, -0.37, -0.16) had lower overall cognitive z-scores compared to participants with high CVH. Similar patterns of associations were observed between CVH of AFT and DSST. Components of CVH were further associated with different domain-specific cognitive functions. Maintaining an ideal CVH improves cognitive function in older adults. Ideal adherence to individual components of LE8 was associated with improved overall and domain-specific cognitive functions. Therefore, promoting CVH according to LE8 might benefit cognitive function in the elderly.

Association of cardiovascular health with incident heart failure in community population without cardiovascular disease: results of the China PEACE million persons project

Abstract Aim To evaluate the association of cardiovascular health (CVH) with incident heart failure (HF). Methods The China PEACE million persons project is a nationwide, government-funded and population-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening study. This was a sub-cohort study of the project that included community-dwelling adults free of CVD. Components of CVH, including diet, physical activity, smoking status, sleep status, body mass index (BMI), non-HDL, blood glucose and blood pressure, were collected using self-report questionnaires. Each component and CVH were categorized as poor, intermediate and ideal status based on the AHA Life’s Essential 8 criteria. HF cases were identified by linking hospital records. Results Among the cohort (n=38571, median age 54 years and women 60.5%), proportion of individuals with poor, intermediate and ideal CVH was 30.7%, 56.9% and 12.4% respectively. After a median follow-up of 3.6 years, the incidence of HF in individuals with poor, intermediate and ideal CVH was 2.5%, 1.1% and 0.5% (P&amp;lt;0.001). Compared to poor CVH, intermediate (adjusted HR: 0.52 [95% CI: 0.43-0.61]) and ideal CVH (adjusted HR: 0.38 [95% CI: 0.26-0.57]) were associated with a lower risk of incident HF. A gradient of association between CVH and risk of incident HF was observed (P-trend &amp;lt; 0.001). Ideal physical activity, ideal smoking status, and intermediate and ideal status of BMI, blood glucose and blood pressure were independently associated with a lower risk of incident HF. Conclusion Poor CVH was independently associated with an increased risk of incident HF and promotion of CVH may have important implications for HF prevention.Graphical abstract

Abstract 12350: The Impact of an Electronic Best Practice Advisory on Patients’ Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is one of eight components of cardiovascular health and it is associated with numerous benefits including a lower risk of CVD. Promoting PA to sedentary patients in primary care can result in significant improvements in PA. The aims of this study were to implement a PA counseling intervention using an electronic best practice advisory (BPA), in a preventive cardiology clinic, and to assess changes in PA and CVD risk factors in a sample of patients enrolled in 12 weeks of PA monitoring. Methods: Patients were assessed with the 3-question (days/minutes/intensity) physical activity vital sign (PAVS) via their electronic patient portal prior to an office visit. Those who self-reported less than 50% of current PA recommendations prompted a BPA to their cardiologist to counsel them on improving their PA. Patients were then offered participation in remote patient monitoring wearing a Fitbit for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, waist circumference, lipids, BMI, PA (using the PAVS and Fitbit step-counts) and the six-minute walk test (for cardiorespiratory fitness) were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Paired t -tests assessed for changes in these CVD risk factors from baseline to 12 weeks. We calculated the percent of participants who achieved a clinically important difference of 25 meters in the six-minute walk test. Results: The enrolled sample (n=59) were primarily female (51%), White adults (76%) with a mean age of 61.13±11.6 years. There was significant improvement in moderate-to-vigorous PA as self-reported by the PAVS (43±86 vs. 114±157, p=.005). There was no significant difference between week 2 step counts (baseline) and week 12 (p=.07). There was significant improvement in the distance covered (in meters) during the six-minute walk test (469±108 vs. 494±132, p=.0034) and 23 participants (42%) improved at least 25 meters. There were also significant differences in total cholesterol (163±51 mg/dl at baseline vs. 148±45mg/dl at 12 weeks; p=.0.02). No other improvements in CVD risk factors were noted. Conclusion: Patients who reported low PA and triggered a BPA for PA counseling had improvements in some, but not all, CVD risk factors. Additional counseling may be needed to improve and maintain PA levels in patients at risk of CVD.

Abstract 12026: Life Essential 8 is Positively Associated With a Higher Executive Cognitive Function in US Children - ABCD Study

Background: While the association between cardiovascular health components has been linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline in adults, the relationship between cardiovascular health indicators and executive/cognitive function in US children remains poorly understood. Research Question: Are measures of cardiovascular health associated with executive, cognitive function and in US children? Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine cross-sectional associations of Life Essential 8 components with executive and cognitive function. Methods: This was a baseline analysis from a multicenter, prospective cohort study, known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Data were analyzed from the baseline ABCD data release 1.0. Participants were children aged 9 to 10 years old recruited in 21 US cities. Participants with incomplete questionnaire data for dietary intake, physical activity, nicotine exposure, or sleep health; health evaluation for body mass index, blood lipids, glycated hemoglobin, or blood pressure; or covariate data were excluded. Each cardiovascular health indicator ranges from 0 to 100 points, enabling the calculation of a composite cardiovascular health score as the unweighted average of all components, which also ranges from 0 to 100 points. The National Institutes of Health Toolbox neurocognitive battery assesses general cognitive ability, executive function, and learning/memory using raw scores and age-corrected measures. Results: A total of 978 individuals were analyzed. The mean (SD) age was 9.9 (0.2) years, 44.9% were girls, and 53.4% were White. Individuals with more favorable cardiovascular health behaviors showed better executive cognitive function (β = 0.170; CI 95%, 0.076 to 0.265; p = 0.001), and overall cardiovascular health was associated with higher executive cognitive function (β = 0.209; CI 95%, 0.067 to 0.351; p = 0.002). Conclusions: Cardiovascular health behaviors and overall cardiovascular health were directly linked to cognitive and executive function in 9-10-year-old US children, supporting public health recommendations to promote these behaviors for their potential benefits to cognitive function and brain development.

Social Determinants of Health, Cardiovascular Health, and Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Adults Without Cardiovascular Disease

BackgroundLimited data exist regarding the prognostic implications of social determinants of health (SDOH) and cardiovascular health (CVH) in Chinese community populations. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of SDOH and CVH with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause death. MethodsIndividuals without cardiovascular disease were obtained from the China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events Million Persons Project. SDOH (educational attainment, economic stability, health care access, social support, and neighborhood) and CVH components were extracted. Participants were divided into groups with low and high burden of unfavorable SDOH and groups with poor, intermediate, and ideal CVH. MACE (a composite of coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death) and all-cause death were identified by linking hospital records with resident identity card number. ResultsAmong the cohort (n = 38,571, median age 54 years, 60.5% women), the proportion of individuals with a high burden of unfavorable SDOH was 68.9%, and that with poor CVH was 30.7%. In reference to the group with a low burden of unfavorable SDOH, the adjusted HRs for MACE and all-cause death in the high burden group were 1.18 (95% CI: 1.08-1.30) and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.09-1.68), respectively. In reference to the group with ideal CVH, poor CVH was associated with higher risks for MACE and all-cause death. A high burden of unfavorable SDOH and poor CVH exerted joint effects on all-cause death (HR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.08-4.48). ConclusionsA high burden of unfavorable SDOH and poor CVH were associated with increased risks for MACE and mortality. Dedicated efforts are needed to address these health disparities.

Temporal Trends in Cardiovascular Health Status Among Chinese School-Aged Children From 1989 to 2018: Multiwave Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Despite the release of updated metrics for Life's Essential 8 (LE8), key indicators for assessing cardiovascular health (CVH) status, there is currently no report on their distribution among Chinese children. This study aimed to assess the nationwide distribution of CVH in Chinese school-aged children using LE8 scores and analyze temporal changes in these scores over time. Participants aged 7 to 19 years from 11 waves (between 1989 and 2018) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included in this study. LE8 components were grouped into 2 domains of health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep) and health factors (BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose, blood pressure). Scores of overall CVH and each LE8 metric were calculated individually. Temporal changes were assessed with joint point regression models by rural and urban living residence. The causal relationships between health behaviors and health factors that changed the most over time were built with cross-lagged panel models. A total of 21,921 participants, 52.6% (n=11,537) of whom were male, who had data for at least 4 CVH components were included in the analysis. The mean age was 13 (SD 3.6) years. The overall CVH score remained stable in most regions, with the lowest found in Shandong from East China, which had a mean between 67 (SD 10.9) and 67.2 (SD 12.4). In contrast, the highest score was found in Guizhou from Southwest China, with a mean between 71.4 (SD 10.8) and 74.3 (SD 10.3). In rural areas, the diet score decreased significantly from 1997 onward with a speed of 0.18 (95% CI: 0.15-0.21; P<.001) per year, and the BMI score decreased significantly from 2005 onward with a speed of 0.56 (95% CI 0.44-0.68; P<.001) per year. In urban areas, the diet score decreased from 1994 onward with a speed of 0.03 (95% CI: 0.001-0.07; P=.04) per year, and the BMI score decreased from 2002 onward with a speed of 0.63 (95% CI 0.47-0.79; P<.001) per year. The sleep score dropped constantly in both urban and rural areas, with a speed of 0.69 (95% CI 0.58-0.80; P<.001) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52-0.86; P<.001) per year, respectively. A decline in the diet score led to a decline in the BMI score with a coefficient of 0.190 (95% CI 0.030-0.351; P=.02), while a decline in the BMI score led to a decline in sleep health with a coefficient of 0.089 (95% CI 0.010-0.168; P=.03). Chinese school-aged children and adolescents were generally of moderate CVH status, but mutual influences existed between CVH metrics. Dietary interventions should be prioritized for promoting overall CVH in the future.

Personal Health Literacy and Life Simple 7: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

ABSTRACT Background Personal Health literacy (PHL) is essential in cardiovascular risk management. Hindrances in PHL can lead to poor cardiovascular outcomes. Purpose To investigate whether limited PHL is associated with lower likelihoods of i) overall cardiovascular health and ii) individual cardiovascular health components as defined by the American Heart Association’s Life Simple (LS7). Methods Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants (N = 3719; median age[range]: 59[45–84]) completed a PHL questionnaire in 2016–2018. PHL was classified as limited (score ≥10) or adequate (score <10). LS7 components were measured in 2000–2002. Robust Poisson regression was employed to compute prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (PR[95%CI]) of LS7 measures. Results 14.7% of participants had limited PHL. Limited PHL was associated with lower likelihoods of optimal LS7 (0.69[0.50, 0.95], p = .02) and average LS7 (0.95[0.88, 1.02], p = .15) after adjustment. Limited PHL was significantly associated with a 7% lower likelihood of ideal fasting blood glucose level after adjustment (0.93[0.89, 0.98], p < .01). Discussion Limited PHL was modestly associated with suboptimal cardiovascular health and elevated blood glucose, independent of income and education. Translation to Health Education Practice Health educators and providers should equitably address PHL barriers to improve cardiovascular management and quality of care for patients and communities.

Sleep Duration Is Associated With Subclinical Carotid Plaque Burden.

Sleep duration is associated with stroke risk and is 1 of 8 essential components of cardiovascular health according to the American Heart Association. As stroke disproportionately burdens Black and Hispanic populations in the United States, we hypothesized that long and short sleep duration would be associated with greater subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, a precursor of stroke, in the racially and ethnically diverse NOMAS (Northern Manhattan Study). NOMAS is a study of community-dwelling adults. Self-reported nightly sleep duration and daytime sleepiness were collected between 2006 and 2011. Carotid plaque presence, total plaque area, and intima-media thickness were measured by ultrasound between 1999 and 2008. Linear and logistic regression models examined the cross-sectional associations of sleep duration groups (primary exposure) or daytime sleepiness (secondary exposure) with measures of carotid atherosclerosis. Models adjusted for age, time between ultrasound and sleep data collection, sex, race and ethnicity, education, health insurance, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and cardiac disease. The sample (n=1553) had a mean age of 64.7±8.5 years and was 61.9% female, 64.8% Hispanic, and 18.2% non-Hispanic Black. Of the sample, 55.6% had carotid plaque, 22.3% reported nightly short sleep (<7 hours), 66.6% intermediate sleep (≥7 and <9 hours), and 11.1% had long sleep (≥9 hours). Compared with intermediate sleep, long sleep was associated with greater odds of carotid plaque presence relative to plaque absence (odds ratio, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1-2.4]) and larger total plaque area (odds ratio, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.0-1.9]) after full covariate adjustment. Short sleep and daytime sleepiness were not significantly associated with any carotid measures. The association between long sleep and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis may explain prior associations between long sleep and stroke.

Change in cardiovascular health among adults with current or past major depressive disorder enrolled in intensive smoking cessation treatment

BackgroundElevated depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking are independently associated with poorer cardiovascular health (CVH), but it is unknown whether their treatment can synergistically improve CVH. We sought to characterize CVH of adults with comorbid depression and smoking and examine changes in CVH associated with changes in smoking and depression. MethodsParticipants (N = 300, 55 % women) were adult smokers (≥ 1 cigarette/day) with lifetime major depressive disorder enrolled in a 12-week intervention trial targeting depression and smoking. Multiple linear regression examined prospective associations between changes in depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), smoking (past 24-hour cigarettes or smoking abstinence), and modified CVH score (per American Heart Association, excluding smoking: diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure). ResultsBaseline mean CVH score was 5.87/12 points (SD = 2.13). No participants met “ideal” on all CVH components (blood glucose: 48 %, cholesterol: 46 %, physical activity: 38 %, body mass index: 24 %, blood pressure: 22 %, diet: 3 %). CVH scores did not change from baseline to end-of-treatment (M = 0.18 points, SD = 1.36, p = .177), nor did change in depression × smoking predict change in CVH (p = .978). However, greater reductions in depression were significantly associated with greater improvements in CVH (β = −0.04, SE = 0.01, p = .015). LimitationsThis study was limited by a short follow-up period, missing blood glucose and cholesterol data, and treatment-seeking smokers. ConclusionsAdults with comorbid depression and smoking had poor CVH. Although integrated treatment for depression and smoking improved both conditions, only reductions in depression were associated with improvements in CVH. These findings have implications for integrating psychosocial treatment into CVH promotion efforts. RegistrationNCT02378714 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Abstract P318: Life’s Essential 8 as a Measure of Cardiovascular Health in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)

Introduction: In 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) introduced Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) as an updated definition of cardiovascular health (CVH). Sleep health was added to the original Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), and a new scoring system was developed. We evaluated how LE8 characterizes CVH among women in the WHI. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the average LE8 score would be moderate, with only a small group of WHI participants having high CVH. Methods: The WHI recruited 161,808 post-menopausal women from 40 clinical centers in 1993-1998. This analysis included 116,514 women without self-reported CVD, with measured height, weight, and blood pressure, and self-reported smoking history, sleep duration, physical activity, diet, diabetes, and cholesterol at baseline. CVH components were scored from 0-100 based on participants’ achievement of each health factor or behavior. Scores were assigned per AHA guidance with some adaptations made based on data availability. Lacking measured values, glucose and lipid scores were calculated based on history and treatment status of diabetes and high cholesterol. Overall LE8 scores were calculated as the unweighted mean of all components. Scores were further categorized into high (80-100), moderate (50-79), or low (0-49), with higher scores indicating positive CVH. Results: The average LE8 score among WHI participants at baseline was 71.5 (standard deviation (SD): 12.5; range 20.6-100) ( Figure ). Overall, sleep scores were high (mean: 86.5, SD 19.1). The lowest scores were found in diet (mean: 39.5, SD 31.3) and physical activity (mean: 47.7, SD: 43.5). LE8 classified 28.1% of WHI participants (32,773/116,514) as having high CVH whereas a prior analysis of LS7 found that 17.7% and 6.1% had ideal levels of 5 and 6-7 CVH components, respectively. Conclusions: Based on the new LE8 definition, most women had moderate CVH at study baseline, with approximately a quarter having high CVH. Although sleep health was high, scores for other health behaviors demonstrated considerable room for improvement.

Abstract P315: Depressive Symptoms and Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults in Puerto Rico

Background: Depressive symptoms are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence, morbidity and mortality. Less is known about the association between depressive symptoms and overall cardiovascular health (CVH) of young adults, an age group that commonly experiences depressive symptoms. We examined the association between depressive symptoms and a metric of overall CVH among young Puerto Ricans, a high risk but understudied population. Measures: We used data from PR-OUTLOOK, a study of CVH among individuals aged 18-29 residing in Puerto Rico, obtained between September 2020 and September 2022. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). CVH was assessed using the AHA Life’s Essential 8 metric, which includes modifiable behavioral (nicotine exposure, diet, physical activity, sleep health) and biological (body mass index- BMI, blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood glucose) components. For this analysis, this metric was modified to exclude diet. Higher scores (range 0-100), overall and for each component, indicate better CVH. Covariates included age, sex, marital status, and childhood material deprivation. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the relationships of CES-D-10 score with overall CVH score and its individual components. An interaction term for sex and CES-D-10 was added to the models to examine potential differences by sex. Results: The sample (n=964; mean age: 22.6 ±3.1) was largely female (64%) and single (89%), and a third (33%) reported having experienced material deprivation in childhood. Over half (58.6%) reported depressive symptoms above the cut-off for likely clinical depression (CES-D-10 &gt;10). The overall mean CVH score was 80.2±12.8, with almost half of the sample (42.8%) having a score &lt; 80. Mean scores for the CVH components were lowest for physical activity (57.2±43.2) and BMI (71.4±33.9). In adjusted models, significant inverse associations were observed between CES-D-10 with overall CVH (-4.21, 95%CI: -5.84,-2.58) and several CVH components: nicotine exposure (-4.28; 95%CI: -8.28,-0.28), physical activity (-9.32; 95%CI: -14.87,-3.78), BMI (-6.54; 95%CI: -10.94,-2.15), and blood pressure (-3.02; 95%CI: -5.81,-0.23). No significant interaction was observed between CES-D-10 and sex. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were inversely associated with CVH and four of the seven assessed CVH components. Longitudinal analyses should elucidate the potential contribution of depressive symptoms to reduction in CVH in young adults. Understanding factors associated with CVH among young Puerto Ricans may help elucidate CVD prevention targets for this vulnerable population.

Abstract P259: Associations of Adverse Childhood Experiences With Cardiovascular Health (Life’s Essential 8) Among Women in Midlife

Introduction: Many women experience suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) during midlife and CVH is related to upstream social, behavioral and environmental factors. However, associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) - more common among women - with CVH are understudied. Hypothesis: ACEs would be associated with poorer CVH among women in midlife. Methods: At mean (SD) 50.9 (5.1) years, participants in the Project Viva cohort completed questionnaires and research staff measured their height, weight, blood pressure, and blood levels of glucose, HbA1c and cholesterol. We calculated Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), a 0-100-point score that includes 8 components of CVH: heart healthy levels of diet, physical activity, sleep, avoidance of nicotine, body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure. In 2021, women reported their personal history of ACEs (10 possible types) prior to age 18y. We used linear regression models adjusted for childhood SES measures (race/ethnicity, parental education, US birth) and age at outcome. Results: Among 319 participants, 114 (36%) reported 0 ACEs and 58 (18%) reported ≥4 ACEs. In midlife, mean (SD) LE8 score was 77 (12) points. In age-adjusted models, ACEs (4+ vs 0) were associated with poorer LE8 score (β -6.15; 95% CI -9.91, -2.40) and behavioral (β -5.84; CI -9.98, -1.69) and biological (β -6.47; CI -11.8, -1.12) domains; covariate adjustment attenuated the results, though the trends remained significant for LE8 and behavioral domain (Figure). In fully adjusted models, each additional ACE was associated with poorer LE8 score (β -0.74; CI -1.44, -0.04) and associations were stronger for ACEs related to abuse (β -2.72; CI -5.57, 0.12) and neglect (-2.48; CI -5.81, 0.85). Of the LE8 components (0-100-points), associations were strongest for glucose (β -1.76; CI -2.85, -0.67) and physical activity (β -1.86; CI -3.92, 0.20). Conclusions: Adverse childhood experiences may have persistent associations with several measures of cardiovascular health among women into midlife.

Abstract P393: AHA Life’s Essential 8 and Incident Hypertension Among US Hispanics/Latinos: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Background: The American Heart Association’s Life Essential 8 (LE8) are a set of eight simple health metrics used to define cardiovascular (CV) health and promote healthy behaviors. Our objectives are to: 1) describe for the first time, LE8 among Hispanics/Latinos of diverse backgrounds and 2) determine the association between LE8 and incident hypertension, a leading risk factor for CV disease. Methods: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is a population-based study of diverse Hispanics/Latinos aged 18-74 years from four US communities. Participants were examined in 2008-2011 (visit 1) and 2014-2017 (visit 2). At visit 1, information on behavioral factors (diet, smoking status, physical activity, sleep duration) and clinical factors (BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting glucose, and medication use) were measured and used to estimate a LE8 score (range: 0 to 100%) for 14,772 participants with complete information. Ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) was defined by LE8 ≥ 80%. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥130 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥80 mmHg, or self-reported use of antihypertensive medications. We estimated ICH and described LE8 score according to Hispanic/Latino background group. Among the 5,667 participants free from hypertension at visit 1, we used Poisson regression models to determine the association between LE8 and incident hypertension at visit 2 including time between visits as an offset. Models were adjusted for age, sex, Hispanic/Latino background, income, education, nativity, health insurance, and marital status. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design of the study. Results: Among diverse US Hispanics/Latinos with a mean age of 41, 21.6% (SE: 0.7) had ICH. Mean LE8 score (68.2, SE: 0.3) varied by Hispanic/Latino background (p&lt;0.05). Compared with Mexican background, (mean: 72.6, SE: 0.3), LE8 was significantly lower (less favorable) in all other Hispanic/Latino background groups: mean score of 62.2 (SE: 0.4) among Puerto Ricans; 62.3 (SE: 0.5) among Cubans; 69.3 (SE: 0.4) among Central Americans, 70.2 (SE: 0.5) among Dominicans; and 70.2 (SE: 0.7) among South Americans. Among Hispanics/Latinos without hypertension at Visit 1, each 10% decrement in LE8 score was associated with 23% increased risk of hypertension over approximately six years (incident density ratio: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.30). Conclusion: Only one in five Hispanics/Latinos had ICH and LE8 varied substantially across Hispanic/Latino background group. Improvements in other components of CV health may result in lower risk of developing hypertension.