White Young Adults Research Articles

Personal justice beliefs, everyday discrimination, and carotid intima media thickness in sexual minority men.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects sexual minority men (SMM) and is linked to discrimination-related stress. Belief in a just world-including the belief that one personally gets what one deserves (personal justice beliefs)-is a coping strategy that can protect against discrimination-related stress and CVD risk. Here, we examine links between personal justice beliefs, perceived everyday discrimination, and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT)-a measure of atherosclerosis that can indicate subclinical CVD. Sexual minority White (29%) and racial minority (African American 18.8%, mixed/other 44.9%) male young adults (N = 69) completed measures of personal justice beliefs and everyday discrimination. cIMT imaging was used to compute common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed associations between justice beliefs, perceived discrimination, and cIMT that were moderated by age. Consistent with prior research, personal justice beliefs predicted less perceived discrimination, especially among older SMM. However, personal justice beliefs were also linked to greater rather than less CCA among older SMM. Relationships between believing in justice and CVD may be complex among minority groups. Among SMM, the belief in personal justice may reduce perceived discrimination, but may be simultaneously deleteriously associated with biological processes that underlie CVD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Disparities in heart failure between White, Black, and Hispanic young adults: insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing among young adults in the United States with pervasive racial and ethnic differences in this population. To evaluate contemporary associations between race and ethnicity, clinical comorbidities, and outcomes among young to middle-aged adults with HF. A retrospective analysis was performed using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. All participants with a self-report of HF aged 20-64 years from 2005 to 2018 were included and stratified by race and ethnicity [non-Hispanic (NH) Whites, NH Blacks, and Hispanics]. Data on baseline characteristics including age, sex, marital status, citizenship, education level, body mass index, insurance, waist circumference, cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and relevant clinical comorbidities were included. Weighted logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) to determine the association of race and ethnicity with HF. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess the association of race and ethnicity with all-cause and cardiac mortality. A total of 1,940,447 young to middle-aged adults had self-reported HF between 2005 and 2018, of whom 61% were NH White, 40% were NH Black, and 22% were Hispanic. When compared with NH White adults, NH Black adults had higher odds of HF adjusted for age, sex, insurance status, marital status, education level, citizenship status, and clinical comorbidities (adjusted aOR 2.63, 95% CI: 1.71-4.05, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the odds of HF between Hispanic and NH White adults (aOR 1.18, 95% CI: 0.64-2.18, p = 0.585). NH Black adults had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a comparable or lower burden of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular clinical comorbidities compared with NH White and Hispanic adults. No statistical significance was noted by race and ethnicity for all-cause and cardiac mortality during a follow-up of 5 years. NH Black young to middle-aged adults were more likely to have HF which may be related to higher blood pressure given the largely similar burden of clinically relevant comorbidities compared with other racial and ethnic groups.

The pandemic and social experience: For whom did discrimination and social isolation increase?

The objective of this study was to examine whether experiences of discrimination have increased during the pandemic, particularly among negatively stigmatized racial/ethnic groups, and whether such experiences have exacerbated feelings of social isolation. Discrimination and social isolation were assessed before and during the pandemic in a sample of 263 Black and White young adults attending a large, predominantly White 4-year research university in the Southeastern region of the United States (52% Black, 48% White, 53% female, mean age = 19.2). Increases in discrimination were evident among Black but not White participants. Black participants also reported greater increases in social isolation than White participants, and changes in discrimination partially mediated the emergent racial disparity in social isolation. Findings are consistent with theoretical perspectives on discrimination during times of stress and suggest the need for broader attention to the impact of the pandemic on unfair treatment of stigmatized groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Sympathetic transduction at rest and during cold pressor test in young healthy non-Hispanic Black and White women.

Non-Hispanic Black (BL) individuals have the highest prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with all other racial/ethnic groups. Previous work focused on racial disparities in sympathetic control and blood pressure (BP) regulation between young BL and White (WH) adults, have mainly included men. Herein, we hypothesized that BL women would exhibit augmented resting sympathetic vascular transduction and greater sympathetic and BP reactivity to cold pressor test (CPT) compared with WH women. Twenty-eight young healthy women (BL: n = 14, 22 [Formula: see text] 4 yr; WH: n = 14, 22 [Formula: see text] 4 yr) participated. Beat-to-beat BP (Finometer), common femoral artery blood flow (duplex Doppler ultrasound), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; microneurography) were continuously recorded. In a subset (BL n = 10, WH n = 11), MSNA and BP were recorded at rest and during a 2-min CPT. Resting sympathetic vascular transduction was quantified as changes in leg vascular conductance (LVC) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) following spontaneous bursts of MSNA using signal averaging. Sympathetic and BP reactivity were quantified as changes in MSNA and MAP during the last minute of CPT. There were no differences in nadir LVC following resting MSNA bursts between BL (-8.70 ± 3.43%) and WH women (-7.30 ± 3.74%; P = 0.394). Likewise, peak increases in MAP following MSNA bursts were not different between groups (BL: +2.80 ± 1.42 mmHg; vs. WH: +2.99 ± 1.15 mmHg; P = 0.683). During CPT, increases in MSNA and MAP were also not different between BL and WH women, with similar transduction estimates between groups (ΔMAP/ΔMSNA; P = 0.182). These findings indicate that young, healthy BL women do not exhibit exaggerated sympathetic transduction or augmented sympathetic and BP reactivity during CPT.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study was the first to comprehensively investigate sympathetic vascular transduction and sympathetic and BP reactivity during a cold pressor test in young, healthy BL women. We demonstrated that young BL women do not exhibit exaggerated resting sympathetic vascular transduction and do not have augmented sympathetic or BP reactivity during cold stress compared with their WH counterparts. Collectively, these findings suggest that alterations in sympathetic transduction and reactivity are not apparent in young, healthy BL women.

Relative importance of behavior-specific determinants of heavy episodic drinking among U.S. young adults

ABSTRACTThe study examined the relative importance of heavy episodic drinking (HED)-specific determinants on past 2-week HED status among White, Black, and Hispanic young adults. Analyzing data from the wave III binge sample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, the study found that the relevance of HED-specific beliefs/expectancies, injunctive and descriptive norms, social images/prototypes, self-efficacy, and anticipatory emotions may vary within and across these construct domains, and by race and ethnicity. These findings highlight the need for alcohol prevention programs tailored by demographic characteristics such as race and ethnicity to enhance intervention effects. Larger-scale studies are necessary to confirm these results.

Abstract 12866: Increased Left Ventricular Mass Has Greater Association With Fat Free Mass Than Fat Mass in Black and White Females

Introduction: Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is a risk factor for adult CV disease and is associated with increased body mass including obesity. The effects of different measures of body composition on LVM in young adulthood are not well described. Goals/Aims: Utilizing an existing longitudinal data set of black and white female young adults, we aimed to determine the contribution of various types of body composition measures to increased LVM. Methods: Data from the National Growth and Health Study, a study of racial differences in the development of obesity, including dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), MRI, and echocardiogram (collected at ages 24-27) were analyzed. Logistic regression was conducted and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves compared to assess the contribution of fat mass by DEXA (FM), fat-free mass by DEXA (FFM), subcutaneous adipose tissue mass by MRI (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue mass by MRI (VAT) towards the development of LVH (defined as LVMI ≥ 38.6 g/m 2.7 ). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess for contributions to LVMI. Results: 550 women were included in the analysis (52.6% Black, mean age 24.9 ± 0.7 years at baseline). Using logistic regression, FM, FFM, SAT, and VAT were significantly associated with LVH (p &lt; 0.0001 for all), adjusting for SBP, DBP, and race. The ROC for FFM is greater than FM, SAT, and VAT (0.849 vs. 0.832, 0.813, and 0.788 respectively). In linear regression, FFM and DBP were significant contributors to LVMI. Black race was a significant predictor of LVH in the visceral fat model. There were no other significant racial differences. Conclusions: FFM had the greatest association with LVM, confirming previously published data. While the contribution of FFM towards the development of LVH was greater than that of FM and BP, FM and BP are modifiable risk factors and thus targets for clinical intervention.

Facial Lacerations Related to Recreational Activities: A National 10-Year Evaluation From US Emergency Departments.

This study serves as a nationally representative retrospective cohort of U.S emergency department visits related to facial lacerations caused by recreational activities. The aim of this work is to offer a representative sample of facial laceration and identify the recreational activities associated with the highest risk of such injuries. We conducted a retrospective study of patients reported to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) which collects information on injuries related to consumer products. Patients were included in our dataset from the time period of 2012 to 2021 if they sustained a facial laceration that was caused by a recreational activity. Our findings reveal 2,383,761 facial lacerations between the study period examined. Young male white adults were more likely to sustain a facial laceration related to recreational activities. Injuries related to exercise equipment were also more likely seen in male patients. The most common cause of facial lacerations was associated with bicycles and basketball. This study found that young white adults are notably prone to facial lacerations, with recreational activities such as bicycling and basketball accounting for the majority of cases. Understanding these statistics is pivotal for implementing targeted strategies to prevent these injuries and their associated consequences.

Conflicting Associations among Bioelectrical Impedance and Cardiometabolic Health Parameters in Young White and Black Adults.

The purpose of this cross-sectional evaluation was to determine the associations between raw bioelectrical impedance and cardiometabolic health parameters in a sample of young non-Hispanic White and African American adults. A total of 96 (female: 52, male: 44) non-Hispanic White ( n = 45) and African American adults ( n = 51) between the ages of 19 and 37 yr (22.7 ± 3.83 yr) completed several fasted assessments including resting systolic blood pressure (rSBP), blood glucose (FBG), blood lipids, and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy-derived measurements included phase angle, bioimpedance index (BI), impedance ratio (IR), reactance index (XCi), fat-free mass (FFM), FFM index (FFMi), and absolute (a) and relative (%) total body water (TBW) and extracellular (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF). All bioelectric variables were collected at 50 kHz other than IR (250 kHz/5 kHz). Multiple regressions were conducted and adjusted for sex, age, and body mass index. rSBP was positively, and HDL was inversely, associated with all bioelectrical impedance and absolute hydration variables (all P ≤ 0.050) other than XCi for rSBP and XCi and FFMi for HDL. rSBP ( P < 0.001) was inversely, and HDL ( P = 0.034) was positively, associated with IR. FBG was positively associated with BI, XCi, FFM, TBWa, and ECFa (all P < 0.050). Metabolic syndrome severity was positively associated with BI, FFM, TBWa, and ECFa for women (all P ≤ 0.050) and with ICFa for African American women ( P = 0.016). Given the rapid increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic health risks among young adults and the broad use of bioelectrical impedance in practice, the conflicting associations we observed in this age group suggest that bioelectrical impedance parameters should be used with caution in the context of cardiometabolic health risks and age.

Longitudinal Associations between Homelessness and Substance Use: Investigating Demographic Differences for Young Adults in Treatment

Objective: To examine prospective, bidirectional associations between homelessness and substance use frequency among young adults receiving substance use treatment in the United States. We also investigated potential differences across demographic subgroups. Methods: Young adults (N = 3717, Mage = 20.1, 28% female, 7.3% sexual/gender minority, and 37% non-Hispanic White) receiving substance use treatment in the U.S. completed assessments at intake, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-intake. Latent growth curve models with structured residuals (LGC-SR) were used to examine cross-lagged associations between homeless days and frequency of substance use and associated problems. Models were stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual and/or gender minority status. Results: Overall, days spent homeless ( μ slope = −0.19, p = 0.046) and substance use frequency ( μ slope 1 = −6.19, p < 0.001) significantly decreased during treatment, with no significant cross-lagged associations between homeless days and substance use frequency. However, results differed by race and ethnicity. For non-Hispanic White young adults, greater substance use at treatment entry was associated with steeper declines in homeless days between-persons ( ϕ standardized = −0.14, p = 0.04). For African Americans, homeless days at treatment entry were associated with greater increases in substance use between-persons ( ϕ standardized = 0.29, p = 0.04). No significant differences were found by sex or sexual/gender minority status. Conclusions: Despite overall declines in homelessness and substance use during treatment, these outcomes may unfold differently for non-Hispanic White and African American young adults. More support may be needed for African American young adults reporting homelessness at treatment entry.

Cross-sectional analysis of racial differences in hydration and neighborhood deprivation in young adults

BackgroundInadequate hydration is associated with cardiovascular and kidney disease morbidity and all-cause mortality. Compared with White individuals, Black individuals exhibit a higher prevalence of inadequate hydration, which may contribute to racial health disparities. However, the underlying reasons for these differences in hydration remain unclear. ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether neighborhood deprivation contributes to racial differences in hydration status. MethodsWe assessed 24 Black and 30 White college students, measuring 24-hour urine osmolality, urine flow rate, urine specific gravity, and plasma copeptin concentration. Participants recorded their food and fluid intake for 3 d to assess total water intake from food and beverages. Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation was measured using a tract-level Area Deprivation Index. ResultsBlack participants exhibited higher urine osmolality (640 [314] compared with 440 [283] mOsm/kg H2O, respectively, P = 0.006) and lower urine flow rate (1.06 [0.65] compared with 1.71 [0.89] ml/min, respectively, P = 0.009) compared with White participants, indicating greater hypohydration among Black participants. Black participants reported lower total water intake from food and beverages than White participants (2.3 ± 0.7 compared with 3.5 ± 1.1 L/day, respectively, P < 0.01). Black participants exhibited higher copeptin than White participants (6.3 [3.1] compared with 4.5 [2.3] pmol/L, P = 0.046), and urine osmolality mediated 67% of the difference (P = 0.027). Black participants reported greater cumulative exposure to neighborhood deprivation during childhood (ages 0–18 y). Furthermore, neighborhood deprivation during childhood was associated with urine specific gravity (P = 0.031) and total water intake from food and beverages (P = 0.042) but did not mediate the racial differences in these measures. ConclusionOur data suggest that compared with White young adults, Black young adults are hypohydrated and exhibit higher plasma copeptin concentration, and that greater neighborhood deprivation is associated with chronic underhydration irrespective of race.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04576338.

Identifying latent themes in suicide among black and white adolescents and young adults using the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2013–2019

Suicide rates for adolescents and young adults (AYA) have risen dramatically in recent years – by almost 60% for Americans aged 10–24 years between 2007 and 2018. This increase has occurred for both whites and Blacks, with the rise in suicide among Black youth of particular note. Blacks historically exhibit lower rates of suicide relative to whites and thus, less is known about the etiology of Black suicide. To gain insight into the underlying causes of suicide among AYA, we examine medical examiner reports from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from 2013 to 2019 for over 26,000 Black and white suicide decedents ages 10–29. We apply structural topic modeling (STM) approaches to describe the broad contours of AYA suicide in the United States today. Our findings reveal distinct patterns by race. Guns, violence and the criminal justice system are prominent features of Black suicide, whether through the mechanism used in the suicide, either by firearm or other violent means such as fire or electrocution, the existence of criminal or legal problems/disputes, the location of death in a jail, or the presence of police. In contrast, the narratives of white AYA are more likely to reference mental health or substance abuse problems. Access to resources, as measured by county median household income, overlay these patterns. Themes more prevalent among Blacks are more common in poorer counties; those more prevalent among whites tend to be more common in wealthier counties. Our findings are consistent with other studies that suggest Black people experience greater exposure to violence and other traumas, systemic racism and interpersonal discrimination that may elevate the risk for suicidal behavior.

Increasing number and shifting demographics of adolescent opioid use disorder presentations to the emergency department

IntroductionOpioid use has been increasing in adolescents; however, lacking are data describing sex, ethnicity, and age groups most affected. We identified and characterized the trend in the adolescent population who presented to the emergency departments (ED) of a large hospital system. MethodsWe obtained data directly from the electronic medical record for patients aged 12–21 years from January 2014 to December 2022. We identified opioid-related visits by primary diagnosis. Trends were compared amongst age groups and by sex and reported ethnicity. ResultsOpioid-related presentations increased in all age groups and were significantly increased in adolescents aged 13–17 years compared to patients aged 18–21 years (1700% [range: 1000–3300%] v 400% [200–800%]; p = 0.02). Adolescents presenting to the ED with opioid-related primary diagnoses were more likely to be Hispanic and male in our region. DiscussionOver the last two years (2021−22) there was a significant increase in opioid-related presentations to our hospital system amongst adolescents and an acceleration post-COVID. In 2022, emergency department presentations shifted to younger teenagers and from white young adults to Hispanic adolescents. The increased number of cases posed management problems in the ED given the lack of outpatient treatment options. ConclusionOpioid-related ED presentations are increasing in adolescents with post-COVID increases in male, Hispanic, and younger patients in our region. Pathways for outpatient treatment need to be developed for adolescents with OUD.

Analysis of North Carolina Medicaid Claims Data to Simulate a Pediatric Accountable Care Organization

Despite momentum for pediatric value-based payment models, little is known about tailoring design elements to account for the unique needs and utilization patterns of children and young adults. To simulate attribution to a hypothetical pediatric accountable care organization (ACO) and describe baseline demographic characteristics, expenditures, and utilization patterns over the subsequent year. This retrospective cohort study used Medicaid claims data for children and young adults aged 1 to 20 years enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid at any time during 2017. Children and young adults receiving at least 50% of their primary care at a large academic medical center (AMC) in 2017 were attributed to the ACO. Data were analyzed from April 2020 to March 2021. Primary outcomes were total cost of care and care utilization during the 2018 performance year. Among 930 266 children and young adults (377 233 children [40.6%] aged 6-12 years; 470 612 [50.6%] female) enrolled in Medicare in North Carolina in 2017, 27 290 children and young adults were attributed to the ACO. A total of 12 306 Black non-Hispanic children and young adults (45.1%), 6308 Hispanic or Latinx children and young adults (23.1%), and 6531 White non-Hispanic children and young adults (23.9%) were included. Most attributed individuals (23 133 individuals [84.7%]) had at least 1 claim in the performance year. The median (IQR) total cost of care in 2018 was $347 ($107-$1123); 272 individuals (1.0%) accounted for nearly half of total costs. Compared with children and young adults in the lowest-cost quartile, those in the highest-cost quartile were more likely to have complex medical conditions (399 individuals [6.9%] vs 3442 individuals [59.5%]) and to live farther from the AMC (median [IQR distance, 6.0 [4.6-20.3] miles vs 13.9 [4.6-30.9] miles). Total cost of care was accrued in home (43%), outpatient specialty (19%), inpatient (14%) and primary (8%) care. More than half of attributed children and young adults received care outside of the ACO; the median (IQR) cost for leaked care was $349 ($130-$1326). The costliest leaked encounters included inpatient, ancillary, and home health care, while the most frequently leaked encounters included behavioral health, emergency, and primary care. This cohort study found that while most children attributed to the hypothetical Medicaid pediatric ACO lived locally with few health care encounters, a small group of children with medical complexity traveled long distances for care and used frequent and costly home-based and outpatient specialty care. Leaked care was substantial for all attributed children, with the cost of leaked care being higher than the total cost of care. These pediatric-specific clinical and utilization profiles have implications for future pediatric ACO design choices related to attribution, accounting for children with high costs, and strategies to address leaked care.

Greater stress and trauma mediate race-related differences in epigenetic age between Black and White young adults in a community sample

Black Americans suffer lower life expectancy and show signs of accelerated aging compared to other Americans. While previous studies observe these differences in children and populations with chronic illness, whether these pathologic processes exist or how these pathologic processes progress has yet to be explored prior to the onset of significant chronic illness, within a young adult population. Therefore, we investigated race-related differences in epigenetic age in a cross-sectional sample of young putatively healthy adults and assessed whether lifetime stress and/or trauma mediate those differences. Biological and psychological data were collected from self-reported healthy adult volunteers within the local New Haven area (399 volunteers, 19.8% Black, mean age: 29.28). Stress and trauma data was collected using the Cumulative Adversity Inventory (CAI) interview, which assessed specific types of stressors, including major life events, traumatic events, work, financial, relationship and chronic stressors cumulatively over time. GrimAge Acceleration (GAA), determined from whole blood collected from participants, measured epigenetic age. In order to understand the impact of stress and trauma on GAA, exploratory mediation analyses were then used. We found cumulative stressors across all types of events (mean difference of 6.9 p = 2.14e-4) and GAA (β = 2.29 years [1.57–3.01, p = 9.70e-10] for race, partial η2 = 0.091, model adjusted R2 = 0.242) were significantly greater in Black compared to White participants. Critically, CAI total score (proportion mediated: 0.185 [0.073–0.34, p = 6e-4]) significantly mediated the relationship between race and GAA. Further analysis attributed this difference to more traumatic events, particularly assaultive traumas and death of loved ones. Our results suggest that, prior to development of significant chronic disease, Black individuals have increased epigenetic age compared to White participants and that increased cumulative stress and traumatic events may contribute significantly to this epigenetic aging difference.

White Racial Identity and Its Link to Support for Far-Right Groups: A Test of a Social Psychological Model

Prior research indicates that far-right political groups tend to be disproportionately composed of and supported by white people. Drawing off the group identity and developmental literature, we add theoretical clarity to this relationship. We argue that a salient white racial identity motivates people to explore social contexts that affirm the value of being white. Many of these contexts (e.g., conservative media) reinforce and instill beliefs in conspiracies, perceptions of racial threat, and a legitimization of group hierarchies, which are defining features of far-right ideologies. As people develop a strong white racial identity, they should thus view far-right groups more favorably. Drawing off survey data from a national US sample of 903 white young adults, we tested a mediation model positing that the effects of a strong white racial identity with support for four far-right groups (the January 6 protesters, QAnon, the Proud Boys, and the Oath Keepers) would be mediated by enhanced levels of conspiratorial ideation, perceived racial threat, and social dominance orientation. We found that the effects of white racial identity with support for all four groups were mostly or completely accounted for by these three mediating factors. We discuss the implications of this research for the racial identity and far-right groups literatures.

0232 A mindfulness intervention to improve sleep in a diverse sample: results from a pilot feasibility study

Abstract Introduction Emerging data suggests that stress is a contributor to sleep health disparities. Mindfulness techniques are effective at reducing stress, yet limited studies have examined its effect on sleep among a diverse sample. We examined stress, sleep, and cardiovascular risk factors before and after participation in a pilot 30-day mindfulness intervention study. Methods Among a sample of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White young adults (n=18), participants underwent 35-days of wrist actigraphy, completed questionnaires on stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and sleep patterns (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and provided blood pressure and weight measurements at baseline, midpoint, and endpoint. Following approximately 5-days of actigraphy, participants received 1-hour of sleep hygiene education and started a 30-day mindfulness meditation via a mobile application (Headspace™). We calculated means and standard deviations (SD) or frequencies for stress levels, sleep quality, and sleep duration, body mass index, and blood pressure before and after the intervention. Results Participants on average were 30 years of age (SD=10.2), 88.9% female, and identified as Asian (11.1%), Black/African American (44.4%), Hispanic (22.2%-not mutually exclusive), and White (33.3%). Most participants had a bachelor’s degree or higher (88.9%). After completing the intervention, participants decreased in stress levels [15.7 (SD=7.7) vs. 13.4 (SD=7.5)] and poor sleep quality [8.3 (SD=2.1) vs 5 (SD=2.2)]. The distribution of short sleepers decreased, 27.8% to 11%. There were no changes in actigraphy-measured sleep duration. The prevalence of obesity and elevated blood pressure decreased from 53% to 47% and 16.7% to 11.1%, respectively. Conclusion We found it feasible to conduct a 30-day app-based intervention among a predominately racial/ethnic minority population. There were modest decreases in stress, short sleep, obesity, and hypertension after the completion of the intervention. Our results suggest stress reduction may be an avenue to improve sleep and cardiovascular health among racial minorities. These results should be replicated in a larger sample to confirm. Support (if any) National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Heart Lung and Blood 1R01HL157954 and K01HL138211; Georgia Center for Diabetes Translation Research (GCDTR) Pilot &amp; Feasibility Pilot Award Program

Dietary fructose and sodium are associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in young black and white adults: the CARDIA study

Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Likewise, suboptimal dietary habits, including high fructose and sodium intake, are major contributors to mortality. High dietary fructose alone predisposes to salt-sensitivity of blood pressure, which is an independent, significant cardiovascular risk factor. We previously showed in our rat model of fructose-salt-sensitive hypertension that even a short term (4 weeks) feeding with 20% fructose and 4% salt leads to salt sensitivity of blood pressure. Furthermore, male rats fed fructose and salt had increased aortic stiffness, impaired diastolic function and longitudinal left ventricular strain. Most recently, we showed that when young rats are fed fructose and salt and then switched to a normal diet, subsequent fructose feeding contributes to the salt sensitivity of blood pressure later in life. The present investigation was designed to test the hypothesis that increased fructose and sodium intake in humans leads to increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The study subjects were derived from the CARDIA study, which is a prospective follow-up study aimed to investigate the evolution of cardiovascular risk factors in a biracial cohort of young adults aged 17-35 years at enrollment. Dietary data was obtained from the diet questionnaires which quantified fructose and sodium. Blood pressures obtained at enrollment, years 7, 15 and 30 of follow-up were used in the present study. Multivariate analysis was completed for the factors contributing to the development of hypertension. Moreover, serum uric acid and C-reactive protein were regressed upon high blood pressure diagnosis at year 15 of follow up. Additionally, echocardiography data were regressed upon high blood pressure diagnosis at year 30 of follow up. Dietary fructose and sodium at year 7 of follow up significantly predicted systolic (SBP)(F (2,2922) =11.760, p &lt;0.001) and diastolic (DBP) (F(2,2922)=12.425, p &lt;0.001) two decades later. C reactive protein was significantly associated with being diagnosed with HTN at year 15 of follow up (OR=1.049, 95% CI [1.020-1.079], P &lt; 0.001), as was serum uric acid (OR=1.510, 95% CI [1.407-1.621], P &lt; 0.001), female sex (OR=2.028, 95% CI [1.610-2.554], P &lt; 0.001), and race (favoring non-African American race, OR = 0.475, 95% CI [0.393-0.574], P &lt; 0.001). Uric acid measured at year 15 was independently associated fructose intake at year 7 of follow up (F (1,3234) =24.765, p &lt;0.001). The variables that were significantly associated with HBP diagnosis at year 30 of follow up were longitudinal peak strain (OR = 1.098, 95% CI [1.057-1.141], P &lt;0.001), left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (OR 1.030, 95% CI [1.003-1.059], P = 0.032), and LV end-systolic volume (OR=0.939, 95% CI [0.882-0.999], P =0.045). Our data indicate that higher fructose and sodium intake during adolescence may significantly impact increases in both SBP and DBP later in life. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Contextual Factors in Ethnic-Racial Socialization in White Families in the United States

Recent demographic shifts and sociopolitical events in the United States have led to a racial reckoning in which white people are engaging with issues of race and racism in new ways. This study addressed the need for research to better understand contextual factors in ethnic-racial socialization (ERS)—strategies in white families to teach children about their own and other people’s ethnicity or race. It examined the relation of neighborhood, school, and social network ethnic-racial composition and U.S. region of residence to participants’ perceptions of ethnic-racial socialization by parents. It employed a large, national survey sample of white young adults reporting on their ERS while growing up and a comprehensive set of ERS strategies. We found that the ethnic-racial composition of the family’s social network, but not the neighborhood or school, was related to exposure to ERS: the whiter the network, the less frequent the socialization, particularly antiracism socialization and exposure to diversity. We also found that Southern residents were more likely than residents in the West and Midwest to be exposed to the strategies of preparation for bias, mainstream socialization, and silent racial socialization. The findings show that these two contextual factors relate to both the frequency and content of the ERS a white child receives.

Acute beetroot juice reduces blood pressure in young Black and White males but not females

A complex interplay of social, lifestyle, and physiological factors contribute to Black Americans having the highest blood pressure (BP) in America. One potential contributor to Black adult's higher BP may be reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Therefore, we sought to determine whether augmenting NO bioavailability with acute beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation would reduce resting BP and cardiovascular reactivity in Black and White adults, but to a greater extent in Black adults. A total of 18 Black and 20 White (∼equal split by biological sex) young adults completed this randomized, placebo-controlled (nitrate (NO3−)-depleted BRJ), crossover design study. We measured heart rate, brachial and central BP, and arterial stiffness (via pulse wave velocity) at rest, during handgrip exercise, and during post-exercise circulatory occlusion. Compared with White adults, Black adults exhibited higher pre-supplementation resting brachial and central BP (Ps ≤0.035; e.g., brachial systolic BP: 116(11) vs. 121(7) mmHg, P = 0.023). Compared with placebo, BRJ (∼12.8 mmol NO3−) reduced resting brachial systolic BP similarly in Black (Δ-4±10 mmHg) and White (Δ-4±7 mmHg) adults (P = 0.029). However, BRJ supplementation reduced BP in males (Ps ≤ 0.020) but not females (Ps ≥ 0.299). Irrespective of race or sex, increases in plasma NO3− were associated with reduced brachial systolic BP (ρ = −0.237, P = 0.042). No other treatment effects were observed for BP or arterial stiffness at rest or during physical stress (i.e., reactivity); Ps ≥ 0.075. Despite young Black adults having higher resting BP, acute BRJ supplementation reduced systolic BP in young Black and White adults by a similar magnitude, an effect that was driven by males.

Longitudinal trajectories of branched chain amino acids through young adulthood and diabetes in later life.

BACKGROUNDElevated circulating branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), measured at a single time point in middle life, are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the longitudinal patterns of change in BCAAs through young adulthood and their association with DM in later life are unknown.METHODSWe serially measured BCAAs over 28 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a prospective cohort of apparently healthy Black and White young adults at baseline. Trajectories of circulating BCAA concentrations from years 2-30 (for prevalent DM) or years 2-20 (for incident DM) were determined by latent class modeling.RESULTSAmong 3,081 apparently healthy young adults, trajectory analysis from years 2-30 revealed 3 distinct BCAA trajectory groups: low-stable (n = 1,427), moderate-stable (n = 1,384), and high-increasing (n = 270) groups. Male sex, higher body mass index, and higher atherogenic lipid fractions were more common in the moderate-stable and high-increasing groups. Higher risk of prevalent DM was associated with the moderate-stable (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.90-3.55) and high-increasing (OR = 6.03, 95% CI: 3.86-9.43) BCAA trajectory groups in adjusted models. A separate trajectory group analysis from years 2-20 for incident DM after year 20 showed that moderate-stable and high-increasing trajectory groups were also significantly associated with higher risk of incident DM, after adjustment for clinical variables and glucose levels.CONCLUSIONBCAA levels track over a 28-year span in most young adults, but serial clinical metabolomic measurements identify subpopulations with rising levels associated with high risk of DM in later life.FUNDINGThis research was supported by the NIH, under grants R01 HL146844 (JTW) and T32 HL069771 (MRC). The CARDIA study is conducted and supported by the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (HHSN268201800005I and HHSN268201800007I), Northwestern University (HHSN268201800003I), the University of Minnesota (HHSN268201800006I), and Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (HHSN268201800004I).