Jackson Heart Study Research Articles

Association Between Dietary Intake of Phosphorus and Measures of Obesity in the Jackson Heart Study

BackgroundThe relation between phosphorus (P) intake and obesity is equivocal, with hypotheses in both directions. ObjectivesWe investigated the relationship between P intake, assessed from a current database, and calculated bioavailable P intake and obesity among African-American adults. MethodsWe examined associations between original and bioavailable P (total, added, and natural) and BMI and waist circumference (WC) in a cross-sectional study of 5306 African-American adults (21–84 y) from the Jackson Heart Study. A total of 3300 participants had complete interviews, valid dietary data, and normal kidney function. Diet was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. A novel algorithm was used to estimate P bioavailability. BMI or WC was regressed on each P variable, adjusting for total energy intake and potential confounders. ResultsAfter adjusting for covariates, original P (total and added) and bioavailable P (total and added) intakes (expressed/100 mg) were associated with BMI (β: 0.11, 0.67, 0.31, and 0.71, respectively; all P < 0.0001). Neither original nor bioavailable natural P was significantly associated (β: −0.03 and 0.09, respectively; both P > 0.05). When added and natural P were included in the same model, added P (original and bioavailable) intakes remained strongly associated with BMI (0.70 and 0.73, respectively; both P < 0.0001). Similar results were seen for WC. Intake of original added P tended to be more strongly associated with BMI, in females (β: 0.72; P < 0.0001) than in males (β: 0.56; P = 0.003) (P-interaction = 0.06). ConclusionsWe found that greater intake of added, not natural, which may be a proxy for intake of processed foods was associated with higher BMI and WC. These were somewhat stronger when bioavailability was considered and for women than for men. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the mechanisms driving these associations.

A parametric bootstrap approach for computing confidence intervals for genetic correlations with application to genetically determined protein-protein networks

Genetic correlation refers to the correlation between genetic determinants of a pair of traits. When using individual-level data, it is typically estimated based on a bivariate model specification where the correlation between the two variables is identifiable and can be estimated from a covariance model that incorporates the genetic relationship between individuals, e.g., using a pre-specified kinship matrix. Inference relying on asymptotic normality of the genetic correlation parameter estimates may be inaccurate when the sample size is low, when the genetic correlation is close to the boundary of the parameter space, and when the heritability of at least one of the traits is low. We address this problem by developing a parametric bootstrap procedure to construct confidence intervals for genetic correlation estimates. The procedure simulates paired traits under a range of heritability and genetic correlation parameters, and it uses the population structure encapsulated by the kinship matrix. Heritabilities and genetic correlations are estimated using the close-form, method of moment, Haseman-Elston regression estimators. The proposed parametric bootstrap procedure is especially useful when genetic correlations are computed on pairs of thousands of traits measured on the same exact set of individuals. We demonstrate the parametric bootstrap approach on a proteomics dataset from the Jackson Heart Study.

Proteomics, Human Environmental Exposure, and Cardiometabolic Risk.

The biological mechanisms linking environmental exposures with cardiovascular disease pathobiology are incompletely understood. We sought to identify circulating proteomic signatures of environmental exposures and examine their associations with cardiometabolic and respiratory disease in observational cohort studies. We tested the relations of >6500 circulating proteins with 29 environmental exposures across the built environment, green space, air pollution, temperature, and social vulnerability indicators in ≈3000 participants of the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) across 4 centers using penalized and ordinary linear regression. In >3500 participants from FHS (Framingham Heart Study) and JHS (Jackson Heart Study), we evaluated the prospective relations of proteomic signatures of the envirome with cardiovascular disease and mortality using Cox models. Proteomic signatures of the envirome identified novel/established cardiovascular disease-relevant pathways including DNA damage, fibrosis, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. The proteomic signatures of the envirome were broadly related to cardiometabolic disease and respiratory phenotypes (eg, body mass index, lipids, and left ventricular mass) in CARDIA, with replication in FHS/JHS. A proteomic signature of social vulnerability was associated with a composite of cardiovascular disease/mortality (1428 events; FHS: hazard ratio, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.08-1.24]; P=1.77×10-5; JHS: hazard ratio, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.14-1.38]; P=6.38×10-6; hazard ratio expressed as per 1 SD increase in proteomic signature), robust to adjustment for known clinical risk factors. Environmental exposures are related to an inflammatory-metabolic proteome, which identifies individuals with cardiometabolic disease and respiratory phenotypes and outcomes. Future work examining the dynamic impact of the environment on human cardiometabolic health is warranted.

User Manual for Coping Strategies Inventory Short Form (CSI-SF)-The Jackson Heart Study.

Researchers have asserted that patients who generally rely on powerful external sources to control their disorders can benefit from examining their coping mechanisms, which can potentially lead to a better understanding of the initiation and progression of some chronic diseases. By trusting their own internal powers and virtues, it is possible for some people to discover and navigate available strategies to balance and enhance their psycho-spiritual well-being and possibly their treatment and recovery. This review serves as a user manual for investigators who choose to use the CSI-SF to conduct their research on coping behaviors. The CSI-SF, which measures four coping strategies based on 16 items, was first assessed using the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) cohort in 2007. The reliability and construct validity of the CSI-SF was also later assessed among hemodialysis patients across 13 countries. In this study, the CSI-SF was assessed to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring coping strategies. The CSI-SF serves the purpose of developing an inner voice that can assist with understanding how people cope with everyday life. The information gathered from the administration of the CSI-SF can inform investigators about environmental cues and triggers that can also impact individual health.

Abstract P539: Association of Physical Activity With Aortic Stiffness in the Jackson Heart Study

Introduction: Arterial stiffness, defined as high rigidity of the arterial wall, results from vascular aging, and is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in the lifespan. The reference standard for central aortic stiffening is carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV). Hypothesis: Higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower levels of aortic stiffness, as measured by CFPWV, among African Americans. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on data from 1,226 participants in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) who underwent arterial tonometry assessment for CFPWV (2011-2016) and had physical activity data available. Physical activity was assessed using a 30-item questionnaire that measured four domains: active living habits, work, home life, and sport/exercise activities. Scores were summed across all domains, with higher scores representing higher physical activity (range = 0-16). Higher CFPWV, measured in meters per second (m/s), indicated increased arterial stiffness. Linear regression models (adjusted for sex and age, and multivariable-adjusted for CVD risk factors) were used to assess the association of physical activity with CFPWV. Results: The sample was 60.3% female with a mean age of 59.02 (SD=10.02). The mean physical activity score was 6.16 (2.27) and mean CFPWV value was 10.3m/s (3.84). There was a significant inverse association between physical activity score and CFPWV across both models. With each 1-unit increase in the total physical activity score, CFPWV was -0.14 m/s lower [95% CI -0.22, -0.06] in the model adjusted for age and sex. In the multivariable adjusted model, the magnitude of the association was similar, B = -0.13, 95% CI [-0.20, -0.05]. Conclusions: In this sample of African Americans, greater physical activity was associated with lower levels of aortic stiffness. Given that aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of CVD, longitudinal investigations of the association between physical activity and CFPWV are needed, including exploring whether physical activity interventions can improve aortic stiffness.

Abstract P493: A Multivariate Analysis of Genetic Risk Scores for Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Mass Derived From Multi-Ancestry Populations and Left Ventricular Mass Amongst African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Background: Increased left ventricular (LV) mass is an outcome of LV remodeling that can result in development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a maladaptive disorder that increases the risk of heart failure. Elevated LV mass is a sensitive predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. African Americans experience a disproportionate burden of heart failure risk and development of LVH. The influence of genetics on this health disparity is unclear and a topic of interest. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered many variants associated with numerous adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart failure and LV phenotypes. However, the relevance of these studies for African Americans may be limited as these analyses have been conducted in multi-ancestry populations with limited representation of African heritage. The question of whether these genetic risk variants can be used to predict LV phenotypes in an independent African American population remains unanswered. Hypothesis: Variant loci that have been associated with heart failure and LV mass in multi-ancestry populations will be associated with LV mass amongst African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS). Methods: Thirty-nine (39) SNPs associated with heart failure and ten (10) SNPs associated with LV mass were identified from two published studies in which participants of African ancestry or Black individuals comprised less than 15% and 2%, respectively. Using the published effect size estimates, genetic risk scores (GRSs) for heart failure and LV mass were computed for 2,175 African American participants (mean age 55, 63% female) in the JHS with complete data and consent for genetic research. We assessed the linear association of heart failure and LV mass GRSs with LV mass indexed to height (LVM h ) and indexed to body surface area (LVM bsa ). A multivariate general linear model was fit to both LVM h and LVM bsa containing both GRS predictors and accounting for age, sex, BMI (mean 31.5), diabetes (22%), and hypertension (52%). No multicollinearity was noted among these explanatory variables using variance inflation factors. Due to non-constant error variance, a log transformation was conducted on both LV mass response variables. Type III MANOVA Pillai tests were run to assess the effects of the GRSs on the log LVM bsa and log LVM h values. Conclusion: When accounting for age, BMI, sex, diabetes, and hypertension, we found that neither the heart failure GRS (p-val = 0.4012) nor the LV mass GRS (p-val = 0.8332) had an effect on both log LVM bsa and log LVM h . There is insufficient evidence to suggest that heart failure and LV mass variants derived from predominantly European multi-ancestry populations are linearly associated with log LV mass amongst African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study. Our work highlights the need for greater recruitment and targeted studies of populations with African ancestry for GWAS of LV phenotypes.

Abstract MP74: Ambient Temperature and Blood Pressure Are Associated in the Jackson Heart Study

Extreme temperature events related to climate change may impact blood pressure (BP). Communities of color, especially African-American populations, are disproportionately affected by temperature extremes due to structural inequities. We assessed the association between ambient outdoor temperature and BP among participants in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), a cohort of African American adults residing in the tri-county area of Jackson, Mississippi. We hypothesized that higher outdoor ambient temperatures would be associated with lower BP. The exposure was average outdoor ambient temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, obtained from Daymet Daily Surface Weather dataset for North America accurate to 1km of Jackson, MS. The two outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP). A total of 5309 participants were included across 3 visits: Visit 1 (2000-2004), Visit 2 (2005- 2008), Visit 3 (2009-2013). We used a linear mixed effects model to determine the relationship between ambient temperature and SBP/DBP at three visits. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, BP medication and visit number were included as adjustment variables. Age, sex, socioeconomic status (captured by level of education, income, and occupation), physical activity, history of cardiovascular disease, BP medications and perceived stress were conceptualized as effect modifiers. To account for non-temperature related seasonal variation in BP, we added season specific coefficients to SBP and DBP readings. The average temperature at each visit was 63.8°F (range: 24.5, 85.6), 64.3°F (range: 30.5, 87.8), 66.3°F (range: 21.9, 90.0), respectively. The average age at baseline was 55.3 years and 63% of the study population was female. For every 10 degrees higher temperature in Fahrenheit, SBP was 0.87 mm Hg (standard error: 0.097, p&lt;0.001) and 0.83 mm Hg (standard error: 0.104, p&lt;0.001) lower in unadjusted and adjusted models respectively. DBP was 0.49 mm Hg (standard error: 0.054, p&lt;0.001) and 0.46 mm Hg (SE: 0.058, p&lt;0.001) lower for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher temperature, in unadjusted and adjusted models, respectively. We did not find any significant interactions between the effect modifiers listed and ambient temperature. In conclusion, there was an association between higher ambient temperature and lower blood pressure, independent of season. This study is crucial in understanding how ambient temperature affects BP among African American adults. Greater temperature extremes could lead to greater fluctuation in BP levels with uncertain short and long-term health effects.

Microvascular vasoregulatory dysfunction in African Americans - An enhanced opportunity for early prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its risk factors and precursors are a major driver of disparities in cardiovascular health. This review examines reported evidence that vascular endothelial dysfunction, and its manifestation as coronary microvascular dysfunction, underlies observed excess morbidity and mortality in African Americans. Advanced imaging insights that reveal patho-mechanisms, along with population evidence from the Jackson Heart Study, and the growing evidence emanating from national and international clinical trials and registries are presented. We examine a physiological framework that recognizes insulin-resistant cardiometabolic underpinnings of the conditions of the American Heart Associations' Life's Essential Eight construct of cardiovascular health as a unifying basis that affords early prevention. Mechanistic-based therapeutic approaches, can subsequently be implemented to interrupt progression to adverse outcomes employing layered, or personalized, treatment strategies of a well-defined set of conditions or diseases. Remaining knowledge gaps are acknowledged.

Epidemiology and Prognostic Implications of Coronary Artery Calcium in Asymptomatic Individuals With Prediabetes: A Multicohort Study.

To describe the epidemiology and prognostic value of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in individuals with prediabetes. We pooled participants free of clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) from four prospective cohorts: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, Framingham Heart Study, and Jackson Heart Study. Two definitions were used for prediabetes: inclusive (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] ≥100 to <126 mg/dL and hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥5.7% to <6.5%, if available, and no glucose-lowering medications) and restrictive (FPG ≥110 to <126 mg/dL and HbA1c ≥5.7% to <6.5%, if available, among participants not taking glucose-lowering medications). The study included 13,376 participants (mean age 58 years; 54% women; 57% White; 27% Black). The proportions with CAC ≥100 were 17%, 22%, and 37% in those with euglycemia, prediabetes, and diabetes, respectively. Over a median (25th-75th percentile) follow-up time of 14.6 (interquartile range 7.8-16.4) years, individuals with prediabetes and CAC ≥100 had a higher unadjusted 10-year incidence of ASCVD (13.4%) than the overall group of those with diabetes (10.6%). In adjusted analyses, using the inclusive definition of prediabetes, compared with euglycemia, the hazard ratios (HRs) for ASCVD were 0.79 (95% CI 0.62, 1.01) for prediabetes and CAC 0, 0.70 (0.54, 0.89) for prediabetes and CAC 1-99, 1.54 (1.27, 1.88) for prediabetes and CAC ≥100, and 1.64 (1.39, 1.93) for diabetes. Using the restrictive definition, the HR for ASCVD was 1.63 (1.29, 2.06) for prediabetes and CAC ≥100. CAC ≥100 is frequent among individuals with prediabetes and identifies a high ASCVD risk subgroup in which the adjusted ASCVD risk is similar to that in individuals with diabetes.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia Variant and Cardiovascular Risk in Individuals With Elevated Cholesterol

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that often results in severely high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high risk of premature coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the impact of FH variants on CHD risk among individuals with moderately elevated LDL-C is not well quantified. To assess CHD risk associated with FH variants among individuals with moderately (130-189 mg/dL) and severely (≥190 mg/dL) elevated LDL-C and to quantify excess CHD deaths attributable to FH variants in US adults. A total of 21 426 individuals without preexisting CHD from 6 US cohort studies (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, Jackson Heart Study, and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) were included, 63 of whom had an FH variant. Data were collected from 1971 to 2018, and the median (IQR) follow-up was 18 (13-28) years. Data were analyzed from March to May 2023. LDL-C, cumulative past LDL-C, FH variant status. Cox proportional hazards models estimated associations between FH variants and incident CHD. The Cardiovascular Disease Policy Model projected excess CHD deaths associated with FH variants in US adults. Of the 21 426 individuals without preexisting CHD (mean [SD] age 52.1 [15.5] years; 12 041 [56.2%] female), an FH variant was found in 22 individuals with moderately elevated LDL-C (0.3%) and in 33 individuals with severely elevated LDL-C (2.5%). The adjusted hazard ratios for incident CHD comparing those with and without FH variants were 2.9 (95% CI, 1.4-6.0) and 2.6 (95% CI, 1.4-4.9) among individuals with moderately and severely elevated LDL-C, respectively. The association between FH variants and CHD was slightly attenuated when further adjusting for baseline LDL-C level, whereas the association was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for cumulative past LDL-C exposure. Among US adults 20 years and older with no history of CHD and LDL-C 130 mg/dL or higher, more than 417 000 carry an FH variant and were projected to experience more than 12 000 excess CHD deaths in those with moderately elevated LDL-C and 15 000 in those with severely elevated LDL-C compared with individuals without an FH variant. In this pooled cohort study, the presence of FH variants was associated with a 2-fold higher CHD risk, even when LDL-C was only moderately elevated. The increased CHD risk appeared to be largely explained by the higher cumulative LDL-C exposure in individuals with an FH variant compared to those without. Further research is needed to assess the value of adding genetic testing to traditional phenotypic FH screening.

Clonal Hematopoiesis and Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells with leukemogenic acquired genetic variants, is associated with incident heart failure (HF). To evaluate the associations of CHIP and key gene-specific CHIP subtypes with incident HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This population-based cohort study included participants from 2 racially diverse prospective cohort studies with uniform HF subtype adjudication: the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) and Women's Health Initiative (WHI). JHS participants were enrolled during 2000 to 2004 and followed up through 2016. WHI participants were enrolled during 1993 to 1998 and followed up through 2022. Participants who underwent whole-genome sequencing, lacked prevalent HF at baseline, and were followed up for HF adjudication were included. Follow-up occurred over a median (IQR) of 12.0 (11.0-12.0) years in the JHS and 15.3 (9.0-22.0) years in the WHI. Statistical analysis was performed from June to December 2023. Any CHIP and the most common gene-specific CHIP subtypes (DNMT3A and TET2 CHIP). First incident hospitalized HF events were adjudicated from hospital records and classified as HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%) or HFrEF (ejection fraction <50%). A total of 8090 participants were included; 2927 from the JHS (median [IQR] age, 56 [46-65] years; 1846 [63.1%] female; 2927 [100.0%] Black or African American) and 5163 from the WHI (median [IQR] age, 67 [62-72] years; 5163 [100.0%] female; 29 [0.6%] American Indian or Alaska Native, 37 [0.7%] Asian or Pacific Islander, 1383 [26.8%] Black or African American, 293 [5.7%] Hispanic or Latinx, 3407 [66.0%] non-Hispanic White, and 14 [0.3%] with other race and ethnicity). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for composite CHIP and HFpEF was 1.28 (95% CI, 0.93-1.76; P = .13), and for CHIP and HFrEF it was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.49-1.25; P = .31). TET2 CHIP was associated with HFpEF in both cohorts (meta-analyzed HR, 2.35 [95% CI, 1.34 to 4.11]; P = .003) independent of cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery disease. Analyses stratified by C-reactive protein (CRP) in the WHI found an increased risk of incident HFpEF in individuals with CHIP and CRP greater than or equal to 2 mg/L (HR, 1.94 [95% CI, 1.20-3.15]; P = .007), but not in those with CHIP and CRP less than 2 mg/L or those with CRP greater than or equal to 2 mg/L without CHIP, when compared with participants without CHIP and CRP less than 2 mg/L. In this cohort study, TET2 CHIP was an independent risk factor associated with incident HFpEF. This finding may have implications for the prevention and management of HFpEF, including development of targeted therapies.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Improved Stroke Risk Assessment in Hypertensive Black Adults.

We aim to determine the added value of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in stroke risk assessment for hypertensive Black adults. We examined 1,647 participants with hypertension without a history of cardiovascular (CV) disease, from the Jackson Heart Study. Cox regression analysis estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for incident stroke per standard deviation increase in cIMT and quartiles while adjusting for baseline variables. We then evaluated the predictive capacity of cIMT when added to the pool cohort equations (PCEs). The mean age at baseline was 57 ± 10 years. Each standard deviation increase in cIMT (0.17 mm) was associated with approximately 30% higher risk of stroke (HR 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.49). Notably, cIMT proved valuable in identifying residual stroke risk among participants with well-controlled blood pressure, showing up to a 56% increase in the odds of stroke for each 0.17 mm increase in cIMT among those with systolic blood pressure <120 mm Hg. Additionally, the addition of cIMT to the PCE resulted in the reclassification of 58% of low to borderline risk participants with stroke to a higher-risk category and 28% without stroke to a lower-risk category, leading to a significant net reclassification improvement of 0.22 (0.10-0.30). In this community-based cohort of middle-aged Black adults with hypertension and no history of CV disease at baseline, cIMT is significantly associated with incident stroke and enhances stroke risk stratification.

The Relationship Between Live Births and CVD Among African American Women in Jackson Heart Study

Background Previous studies have reported mixed results on the relationship between live births and cardiovascular disease among African American females, with few controlling for an inclusive list of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and/or including a large population of African American female participants. Methods To help clarify this issue we examined the relationship between live births and cardiovascular events, including major CVD risk factors in a well-studied, exclusively African American cohort. Data was from 3367 African American women, 21 and older, in the Jackson Heart Study. Myocardial Infraction (MI), Self-reported history of cardiac procedures, Coronary Heart Disease Status/History, Self-reported history of Carotid Angioplasty, Cardiovascular Disease history, and Heart Failure History were obtained from 2000 to 2004 interviews. Live births were self-reported. Chi-square test indicated a significant association between live births and the presence of CVD (p =.000). Logistic regression estimated the relationship between live births and cardiovascular events, adjusting for major cardiovascular risk factors. Results After adjusting for hypertension status, current smoking status, cholesterol status, diabetes status, family history of heart diseases (mother), family history of heart disease (father), age, frequency of alcohol use in the past 12 months, and the average number of drinks per week in the past 12 months, there was no longer a significant relationship between live births and the risk of CVD (AOR 1.012, 95% CI, 1.009-1.015, p=.895). Discussion The unadjusted significant relationship between live births and CVD events disappeared after adjusting for major CVD risk factors, which suggests that an association between live births and CVD is indirect and based on the distribution of CVD risk factors. Conclusion Therefore, we propose more research on the use of live births as a CVD indicator in African American/Black women to ensure that African American/Black women obtain optimum cardiovascular health and make informed reproductive decisions.

Adherence to the healthy eating index-2010 and alternative healthy eating index-2010 in relation to metabolic syndrome among African Americans in the Jackson heart study.

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) scores were associated with incident metabolic syndrome. This study is a secondary analysis of data from the Jackson Heart Study. HEI and AHEI scores were divided into quintiles and Cox proportional hazards regression models were analysed for 1864 African American adults free from metabolic syndrome at Exam 1 to examine the incidence of metabolic syndrome by quintile of dietary quality score. Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties, Mississippi, USA. African American adults, ages 21-94 years, 60·9 % female. Over a mean follow-up time of 6·7 years, we observed 932 incident cases of metabolic syndrome. After adjusting for multiple covariates, a higher HEI score at Exam 1 was not associated with the risk of incident metabolic syndrome, except when looking at the trend analysis for the subgroup of adults with two metabolic syndrome components at Exam 1 (P-trend = 0·03). A higher AHEI score at Exam 1 was associated with the risk of incident metabolic syndrome (hazard ratio for those in the highest quintile compared to the lowest: 0·80 (95 % CI: 0·65, 0·99), P-trend = 0·03). These findings suggest that a dietary pattern that scores higher on the AHEI may help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, even for adults who already have two of the minimum of three components required for a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

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.

The Associations of Dispositional Optimism with Multiple Measures of Obesity among African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

The Associations of Dispositional Optimism with Multiple Measures of Obesity among African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Social Networks and Cardiovascular Disease Events in the Jackson Heart Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects Black adults. Greater social networks (SNs), or social connectedness, may lower the risk of CVD events. This study determined the association of SNs and incident CVD and tested mediation by depressive symptoms, hypertension control, and diabetes control. We used the Social Network Index at exam 1 (2000-2004) to develop a continuous standardized SN score and binary categories (high versus low) among participants in the Jackson Heart Study (n=4686; mean age, 54.8 years). Surveillance of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure events occurred after exam 1 (2005 for HF) until 2016. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we estimated the association of SNs and CVD events by sex and tested the mediation of depressive symptoms, hypertension control, and diabetes control. Models adjusted for age, education, health behaviors, CVD comorbidities, and depressive symptoms. Among women, the SN score was associated with a lower hazard of stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure after full adjustment (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78 [95% CI, 0.64-0.95]; HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.71-0.88]; and HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.66-0.92], respectively). SN scores were also associated with a lower hazard of coronary heart disease in men (HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.75-0.94]) after full adjustment. High versus low SNs were associated with a lower hazard of coronary heart disease and heart failure among women after full adjustment. There was no evidence of mediation by depressive symptoms, diabetes control, and hypertension control. Higher SNs may lower the risk of CVD events, especially in women.

Predicting incident cardiovascular disease among African-American adults: A deep learning approach to evaluate social determinants of health in the Jackson heart study.

The present study sought to leverage machine learning approaches to determine whether social determinants of health improve prediction of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participants in the Jackson Heart study with no history of CVD at baseline were followed over a 10-year period to determine first CVD events (i.e., coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure). Three modeling algorithms (i.e., Deep Neural Network, Random Survival Forest, Penalized Cox Proportional Hazards) were used to evaluate three feature sets (i.e., demographics and standard/biobehavioral CVD risk factors [FS1], FS1 combined with psychosocial and socioeconomic CVD risk factors [FS2], and FS2 combined with environmental features [FS3]) as predictors of 10-year CVD risk. Contrary to hypothesis, overall predictive accuracy did not improve when adding social determinants of health. However, social determinants of health comprised eight of the top 15 predictors of first CVD events. The social determinates of health indicators included four socioeconomic factors (insurance status and types), one psychosocial factor (discrimination burden), and three environmental factors (density of outdoor physical activity resources, including instructional and water activities; modified retail food environment index excluding alcohol; and favorable food stores). Findings suggest that whereas understanding biological determinants may identify who is currently at risk for developing CVD and in need of secondary prevention, understanding upstream social determinants of CVD risk could guide primary prevention efforts by identifying where and how policy and community-level interventions could be targeted to facilitate changes in individual health behaviors.

Longitudinal modeling of cardiac function to identify trajectories with differential risk of heart failure

Abstract Background Impairments in left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function are common precursors of clinical heart failure (HF) and underlie HF risk. Little data exist regarding trajectories of cardiac function in mid- to late-life, when HF risk is greatest, and the extent to which such trajectories may differentially relate to risk of HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Purpose To (1) identify multidimensional trajectories of cardiac function from mid- to late-life using serial echocardiographic data, (2) apply the resulting models to predict trajectory membership in a separate sample, and (3) determine associations between assigned trajectory and incident HFpEF and HFrEF. Methods We used a Bayesian nonparametric trajectory approach to jointly model longitudinal measures of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and E/A ratio among 747 participants in two longitudinal cohort studies (the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities [ARIC] study and Jackson Heart Study [JHS]) who underwent ≥2 echocardiograms in 2000-04 (mean age 65±5 years), 2011-2013 (age 75±5 years), and 2018-19 (age 81±5 years). Using the trajectories inferred from this modeling, we applied Bayes theorem to assign 4,419 ARIC-only participants to their most likely trajectory using single time-point measures of LVEF and E/A ratio acquired in 2011-2013 (age 75±5 years). These assignments were treated as a categorical variable in subsequent analysis. In ARIC-only participants, we used Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and coronary heart disease to assess the relationship between assigned trajectory and incident HF. Results In the discovery set (n=747), we identified six trajectories of cardiac function based jointly on longitudinal changes in LVEF and E/A ratio (Figure 1). The pink (prevalence 50%) and light green (17%) trajectories showed increasing LVEF and decreasing E/A ratio with increasing age, while the red trajectory (22%) demonstrated a lack of increase in LVEF. The dark green trajectory (4%) demonstrated progressive LVEF decline, the orange trajectory (2%) steep LVEF decline and rise in E/A ratio, and the blue trajectory (4%) rising E/A ratio despite increasing in LVEF. Analysis of the ARIC-only participants (n=4,419) showed that trajectory membership was differentially associated with risk of incident HFpEF and HFrEF (Figure 2). Compared to the pink trajectory, membership in the orange trajectory was associated with incident HFpEF and HFrEF, the red and the dark green trajectory associated with HFrEF alone, and the blue trajectory with HFpEF alone. Conclusion(s) These results demonstrate the feasibility of identifying trajectories of cardiac function with multidimensional longitudinal data and may have implications for HF risk prediction.

Abstract 12856: Electrocardiographic T Wave Inversion and Cardiac Structure and Function

Background: Electrocardiographic T wave inversion (TWI) has been associated with incident heart failure (HF) in Black Americans without known coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TWI and left ventricular (LV) structure and function to evaluate cardiac changes that may precede symptomatic disease among Black Americans. Methods: Among 4134 Black American participants in the Jackson Heart Study without prevalent HF or CHD at baseline. We defined TWI as having negative T wave amplitudes in each lead of the 12-lead electrocardiogram. Outcomes of interest included echocardiographic LV structure (LV mass index, LVMI, LV diastolic dimension, LVDd and relative wall thickness, RWT) and LV function (LV ejection fraction, LVEF). We investigated the associations between TWI and LV structure and function using multiple linear regression analysis. For participants with missing values in any covariate of interest, values were imputed using multiple imputation by chained equations. Results: In this cohort with median age 55 years and 65% women. The depth of the inverted T wave in leads I and aVL were positively associated with RWT (Figure). The depth of the inverted T waves in leads II, III, and aVF were associated with LVDd. The depth of the inverted T waves in all the leads except V1 and V2 were associated with LVMI, while T wave inversions in only aVF were associated with LVEF. Conclusion: The depth of inverted T waves in leads I and aVL (which were associated with incident HF with preserved EF) were associated with LV concentricity while T wave amplitudes in leads II, III, and aVF (which were associated with incident HF reduced EF) were associated with LV eccentricity. Simple electrocardiographic information may be useful for identifying patients at risk of HF (stage B/pre HF).