Cumulative social disadvantage and health-related quality of life: national health interview survey 2013-2017.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the association between social determinants of health (SDoH) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is largely based on single SDoH measures, with limited evaluation of cumulative social disadvantage. We examined the association between cumulative social disadvantage and the Health and Activity Limitation Index (HALex). METHODS: Using adult data from the National Health Interview Survey (2013-2017), we created a cumulative disadvantage index by aggregating 47 deprivations across 6 SDoH domains. Respondents were ranked using cumulative SDoH index quartiles (SDoH-Q1 to Q4), with higher quartile groups being more disadvantaged. We used two-part models for continuous HALex scores and logistic regression for poor HALex (< 20th percentile score) to examine HALex differences associated with cumulative disadvantage. Lower HALex scores implied poorer HRQoL performance. RESULTS: The study sample included 156,182 respondents, representing 232.8 million adults in the United States (mean age 46 years; 51.7% women). The mean HALex score was 0.85 and 17.7% had poor HALex. Higher SDoH quartile groups had poorer HALex performance (lower scores and increased prevalence of poor HALex). A unit increase in SDoH index was associated with - 0.010 (95% CI [-0.011, -0.010]) difference in HALex score and 20% higher odds of poor HALex (odds ratio, OR = 1.20; 95% CI [1.19, 1.21]). Relative to SDoH-Q1, SDoH-Q4 was associated with HALex score difference of -0.086 (95% CI [-0.089, -0.083]) and OR = 5.32 (95% CI [4.97, 5.70]) for poor HALex. Despite a higher burden of cumulative social disadvantage, Hispanics had a weaker SDoH-HALex association than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative social disadvantage was associated with poorer HALex performance in an incremental fashion. Innovations to incorporate SDoH-screening tools into clinical decision systems must continue in order to accurately identify socially vulnerable groups in need of both clinical risk mitigation and social support. To maximize health returns, policies can be tailored through community partnerships to address systemic barriers that exist within distinct sociodemographic groups, as well as demographic differences in health perception and healthcare experience.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists: A Medication for Obesity Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The burden of obesity worldwide is high and projected to rise. Obesity increases the risk of several cardiovascular diseases and cardiometabolic risk factors; hence, utilizing effective long-term therapies for obesity is of utmost importance. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have emerged as effective therapies that achieve substantial weight loss and improve cardiometabolic risk. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of GLP-1RAs in obesity management. RECENT FINDINGS: Two subcutaneous GLP-1RAs, liraglutide and semaglutide, have been evaluated in several clinical trials for weight loss. Liraglutide achieves a mean weight loss of 4-7 kg, and more than 50% of treated individuals achieve 5% or more weight loss. Semaglutide has a greater impact on weight loss, with a mean weight loss of 9-16 kg, and more than 50% of treated individuals achieve 10-15% or more weight loss. These results led to regulatory approval of these agents for weight loss in individuals with obesity, regardless of diabetes status. In addition to weight loss, the benefits of GLP-1RAs extend to other risk factors, such as glycemic control and blood pressure. Gastrointestinal symptoms are the most frequently encountered adverse events with incidences between 5 and 30%. Finally, the cost remains one of the most critical challenges that limit GLP-1RAs use. GLP-1RAs have robust weight loss benefits and are expected to have a critical role in the management of obesity in the coming years. Upcoming studies will evaluate the durability of weight loss achieved with GLP-1RAs and the impact on cardiovascular outcomes.

Understanding Immigration as a Social Determinant of Health: Cardiovascular Disease in Hispanics/Latinos and South Asians in the United States.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The main purpose of this review is to summarize the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among two of the largest and most diverse immigrant groups in the United States (Hispanics/Latinos and South Asians). RECENT FINDINGS: While the migration process generates unique challenges for individuals, there is a wide heterogeneity in the characteristics of immigrant populations, both between and within regions of origin. Hispanic/Latino immigrants to the United States have lower levels of cardiovascular risk factors, prevalence, and mortality, but this assessment is limited by issues related to the "salmon bias." South Asian immigrants to the United States generally have higher levels of risk factors and higher mortality. In both cases, levels of risk factors and mortality generally increase with time of living in the United States (US). While immigration acts as a social determinant of health, associations between immigration and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors are complex and vary across subpopulations.

Social Determinants of Health and Cardiovascular Disease: Current State and Future Directions Towards Healthcare Equity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We sought to examine the role of social and environmental conditions that determine an individual's behaviors and risk of disease-collectively known as social determinants of health (SDOH)-in shaping cardiovascular (CV) health of the population and giving rise to disparities in risk factors, outcomes, and clinical care for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the United States (US). RECENT FINDINGS: Traditional CV risk factors have been extensively targeted in existing CVD prevention and management paradigms, often with little attention to SDOH. Limited evidence suggests an association between individual SDOH (e.g., income, education) and CVD. However, inequities in CVD care, risk factors, and outcomes have not been studied using a broad SDOH framework. We examined existing evidence of the association between SDOH-organized into 6 domains, including economic stability, education, food, neighborhood and physical environment, healthcare system, and community and social context-and CVD. Greater social adversity, defined by adverse SDOH, was linked to higher burden of CVD risk factors and poor outcomes, such as stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary heart disease, heart failure, and mortality. Conversely, favorable social conditions had protective effects on CVD. Upstream SDOH interact across domains to produce cumulative downstream effects on CV health, via multiple physiologic and behavioral pathways. SDOH are major drivers of sociodemographic disparities in CVD, with a disproportionate impact on socially disadvantaged populations. Efforts to achieve health equity should take into account the structural, institutional, and environmental barriers to optimum CV health in marginalized populations. In this review, we highlight major knowledge gaps for each SDOH domain and propose a set of actionable recommendations to inform CVD care, ensure equitable distribution of healthcare resources, and reduce observed disparities.

Association Between Sociodemographic Determinants and Disparities in Stroke Symptom Awareness Among US Young Adults.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite declining stroke rates in the general population, stroke incidence and hospitalizations are rising among younger individuals. Awareness of and prompt response to stroke symptoms are crucial components of a timely diagnosis and disease management. We assessed awareness of stroke symptoms and response to a perceived stroke among young adults in the United States. METHODS: Using data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, we assessed awareness of 5 common stroke symptoms and the knowledge of planned response (ie, calling emergency medical services) among young adults (<45 years) across diverse sociodemographic groups. Common stroke symptoms included: (1) numbness of face/arm/leg, (2) confusion/trouble speaking, (3) difficulty walking/dizziness/loss of balance, (4) trouble seeing in one/both eyes, and (5) severe headache. RESULTS: Our study population included 24 769 adults, of which 9844 (39.7%) were young adults who were included in our primary analysis, and represented 107.2 million US young adults (mean age 31.3 [±7.5] years, 50.6% women, and 62.2% non-Hispanic White). Overall, 2718 young adults (28.9%) were not aware of all 5 stroke symptoms, whereas 242 individuals (2.7%; representing 2.9 million young adults in the United States) were not aware of a single symptom. After adjusting for confounders, Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.17-3.28]), non-US born immigration status (odds ratio, 2.02 [95% CI, 1.31-3.11]), and lower education level (odds ratio, 2.77 [95% CI, 1.76-4.35]), were significantly associated with lack of symptom awareness. Individuals with 5 high-risk characteristics (non-White, non-US born, low income, uninsured, and high school educated or lower) had nearly a 4-fold higher odds of not being aware of all symptoms (odds ratio, 3.70 [95% CI, 2.43-5.62]). CONCLUSIONS: Based on data from the National Health Interview Survey, a large proportion of young adults may not be aware of stroke symptoms. Certain sociodemographic subgroups with decreased awareness may benefit from focused public health interventions.

Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk, Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease, and Cardiovascular Events.

Background Although there is research on the impact of social determinants of health (SDOHs) on cardiovascular health, most existing evidence is based on individual SDOH components. We evaluated the impact of cumulative SDOH burden on cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical atherosclerosis, and incident cardiovascular disease events. Methods and Results We included 6479 participants from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). A weighted aggregate SDOH score representing the cumulative number of unfavorable SDOHs, identified from 14 components across 5 domains (economic stability, neighborhood and physical environment, community and social context, education, and health care system access) was calculated and divided into quartiles (quartile 4 being the least favorable). The impact of cumulative SDOH burden on cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and obesity), systemic inflammation, subclinical atherosclerosis, and incident cardiovascular disease was evaluated. Increasing social disadvantage was associated with increased odds of all cardiovascular risk factors except dyslipidemia. Smoking was the risk factor most strongly associated with worse SDOH (odds ratio [OR], 2.67 for quartile 4 versus quartile 1 [95% CI, 2.13-3.34]). Participants within SDOH quartile 4 had 33% higher odds of increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.11-1.60]) and 31% higher risk of all cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.03-1.67]), yet no greater burden of subclinical atherosclerosis (OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.79-1.29]), when compared with those in quartile 1. Conclusions Increasing social disadvantage was associated with more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation, and incident cardiovascular disease. These findings call for better identification of SDOHs in clinical practice and stronger measures to mitigate the higher SDOH burden among the socially disadvantaged to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

Favorable Neighborhood Walkability is Associated With Lower Burden of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Patients Within an Integrated Health System: The Houston Methodist Learning Health System Outpatient Registry.

This is the first study to investigate the relationship between neighborhood walkability and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in the United States using a large population-based database. Cross-sectional study using data from 1.1 million patients over the age of 18 in the Houston Methodist Learning Health System Outpatient Registry (2016-2022). Using the 2019 WalkScore, patients were assigned to one of the 4 neighborhood walkability categories. The burden of CV risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and smoking) was defined as poor, average, or optimal (>3, 1-2, 0 risk factors, respectively). We included 887,654 patients, of which 86% resided in the two least walkable neighborhoods. The prevalence of CV risk factors was significantly lower among participants in the most walkable neighborhoods irrespective of ASCVD status. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors, we found that adults living in the most walkable neighborhoods were more likely to have optimal CV risk profile than those in the least walkable ones (RRR 2.77, 95% CI 2.64-2.91). We observed an inverse association between neighborhood walkability and the burden of CV risk factors. These findings support multilevel health system stakeholder engagements and investments in walkable neighborhoods as a viable tool for mitigating the growing burden of modifiable CV risk factors.

Cardiovascular risk profile of Middle Eastern immigrants living in the United States-the National Health Interview Survey.

BACKGROUND: Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants are one of the fastest-growing groups in the US. Although ME countries have a high burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the cardiovascular health status among ME immigrants in the US has not been studied in detail. This study aims to characterize the cardiovascular health status (CVD risk factors and ASCVD burden) among ME immigrants in the US. METHODS: We used 2012-2018 data from the National Health Interview Survey, a US nationally representative survey. ME origin, CVD risk factors, and ASCVD status were self-reported. We compared these to US-born non-Hispanic white (NHW) individuals in the US. RESULTS: Among 139,778 adults included, 886 (representing 1.3 million individuals, mean age 46.8) were of ME origin, and 138,892 were US-born NHWs (representing 150 million US adults, mean age 49.3). ME participants were more likely to have higher education, lower income and be uninsured. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension (22.4% vs 27.4%) and obesity (21.4% vs 31.4%) were significantly lower in ME vs NHW participants, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in the age-adjusted prevalence of ASCVD, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Only insufficient physical activity was higher among ME individuals. ME immigrants living in the US for 10 years or more reported higher age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and ASCVD. CONCLUSIONS: ME immigrants in the US have lower odds of hypertension and obesity, and of having a suboptimal CRF profile compared to US-born NHWs. Further studies are needed to determine whether these findings are related to lower risk, selection of a healthier ME subgroup in NHIS, or possible under-detection of cardiovascular risk factors in ME immigrants living in the US.

Food insecurity and cardiovascular disease: Current trends and future directions.

Food insecurity (FI) - a state of limited access to nutritionally adequate food - is notably more prominent among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population. Current research suggests that FI increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through various behavioral and biological pathways. Importantly, FI is more prevalent among low-income households and disproportionately affects households with children, particularly those led by single mothers. These disparities necessitate solutions specifically geared towards helping these high-risk subgroups, who also experience increased risk of CVD associated with FI. Further, individuals with CVD may experience increased risk of FI due to the financial burden imposed by CVD care. While participation in federal aid programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children has been associated with cardiovascular health benefits, residual FI and lower dietary quality among many families suggest a need for better outreach and expanded public assistance programs. Healthcare systems and community organizations can play a vital role in screening individuals for FI and connecting them with food and educational resources. While further research is needed to evaluate sociodemographic differences in the FI-CVD relationship, interventions at the policy, health system, and community levels can help address both the burden of FI and its impacts on cardiovascular health.

Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence in Adults With Diabetes in the United States: The National Health Interview Survey 2013-2018.

OBJECTIVE: Health-related expenditures resulting from diabetes are rising in the U.S. Medication nonadherence is associated with worse health outcomes among adults with diabetes. We sought to examine the extent of reported cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) in individuals with diabetes in the U.S. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied adults age ≥18 years with self-reported diabetes from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (2013-2018), a U.S. nationally representative survey. Adults reporting skipping doses, taking less medication, or delaying filling a prescription to save money in the past year were considered to have experienced CRN. The weighted prevalence of CRN was estimated overall and by age subgroups (<65 and ≥65 years). Logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic characteristics independently associated with CRN. RESULTS: Of the 20,326 NHIS participants with diabetes, 17.6% (weighted 2.3 million) of those age <65 years reported CRN, compared with 6.9% (weighted 0.7 million) among those age ≥65 years. Financial hardship from medical bills, lack of insurance, low income, high comorbidity burden, and female sex were independently associated with CRN across age groups. Lack of insurance, duration of diabetes, current smoking, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were associated with higher odds of reporting CRN among the nonelderly but not among the elderly. Among the elderly, insulin use significantly increased the odds of reporting CRN (odds ratio 1.51; 95% CI 1.18, 1.92). CONCLUSIONS: In the U.S., one in six nonelderly and one in 14 elderly adults with diabetes reported CRN. Removing financial barriers to accessing medications may improve medication adherence among these patients, with the potential to improve their outcomes.

Race, Racism, and Cardiovascular Health: Applying a Social Determinants of Health Framework to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease.

Health care in the United States has seen many great innovations and successes in the past decades. However, to this day, the color of a person's skin determines-to a considerable degree-his/her prospects of wellness; risk of disease, and death; and the quality of care received. Disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally-are one of the starkest reminders of social injustices, and racial inequities, which continue to plague our society. People of color-including Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian, and others-experience varying degrees of social disadvantage that puts these groups at increased risk of CVD and poor disease outcomes, including mortality. Racial/ethnic disparities in CVD, while documented extensively, have not been examined from a broad, upstream, social determinants of health lens. In this review, we apply a comprehensive social determinants of health framework to better understand how structural racism increases individual and cumulative social determinants of health burden for historically underserved racial and ethnic groups, and increases their risk of CVD. We analyze the link between race, racism, and CVD, including major pathways and structural barriers to cardiovascular health, using 5 distinct social determinants of health domains: economic stability; neighborhood and physical environment; education; community and social context; and healthcare system. We conclude with a set of research and policy recommendations to inform future work in the field, and move a step closer to health equity.

Social Determinants of Health Among Non-Elderly Adults With Stroke in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of social determinants of health (SDOH) on prevalence of stroke in non-elderly adults (<65 years of age). METHODS: We used the National Health Interview Survey (2013-2017) database. The study population was stratified into younger (<45 years of age) and middle age (45 to 64 years of age) adults. For each individual, an SDOH aggregate score was calculated representing the cumulative number of individual unfavorable SDOH (present vs absent), identified from 39 subcomponents across five domains (economic stability, neighborhood, community and social context, food, education, and health care system access) and divided into quartiles (quartile 1, most favorable; quartile 4, most unfavorable). Multivariable models tested the association between SDOH score quartiles and stroke. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence of stroke was 1.4% in the study population (n=123,631; 58.2% (n=71,956) in patients <45 years of age). Young adults reported approximately 20% of all strokes. Participants with stroke had unfavorable responses to 36 of 39 SDOH; nearly half (48%) of all strokes were reported by participants in the highest SDOH score quartile. A stepwise increase in age-adjusted stroke prevalence was observed across increasing quartiles of SDOH (first, 0.6%; second, 0.9%; third, 1.4%; and fourth, 2.9%). After accounting for demographics and cardiovascular disease risk factors, participants in the fourth vs first quartile had higher odds of stroke (odds ratio, 2.78; 95% CI, 2.25 to 3.45). CONCLUSION: Nearly half of all non-elderly individuals with stroke have an unfavorable SDOH profile. Standardized assessment of SDOH risk burden may inform targeted strategies to mitigate disparities in stroke burden and outcomes in this population.

Burden of cardiovascular risk factors and disease in five Asian groups in Catalonia: a disaggregated, population-based analysis of 121 000 first-generation Asian immigrants.

AIMS: To evaluate the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and disease (CVD) among five Asian groups living in Catalonia (Spain): Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Filipino, and Chinese. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective cohort study using the Catalan Health Surveillance System database including 42 488 Pakistanis, 40 745 Chinese, 21 705 Indians, 9544 Filipinos, and 6907 Bangladeshis; and 5.3 million native individuals ('locals'). We estimated the age-adjusted prevalence (as of 31 December 2019) and incidence (during 2019) of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, tobacco use, coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure (HF). Bangladeshis had the highest prevalence of diabetes (17.4% men, 22.6% women) followed by Pakistanis. Bangladeshis also had the highest prevalence of hyperlipidaemia (23.6% men, 18.3% women), hypertension among women (24%), and incident tobacco use among men. Pakistani women had the highest prevalence of obesity (28%). For CHD, Bangladeshi men had the highest prevalence (7.3%), followed by Pakistanis (6.3%); and Pakistanis had the highest prevalence among women (3.2%). For HF, the prevalence in Pakistani and Bangladeshi women was more than twice that of locals. Indians had the lowest prevalence of diabetes across South Asians, and of CHD across South Asian men, while the prevalence of CHD among Indian women was twice that of local women (2.6% vs. 1.3%). Filipinos had the highest prevalence of hypertension among men (21.8%). Chinese men and women had the lowest prevalence of risk factors and CVD. CONCLUSIONS: In Catalonia, preventive interventions adapted to the risk profile of different Asian immigrant groups are needed, particularly for Bangladeshis and Pakistanis.

Heterogeneity in cardio-metabolic risk factors and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among Asian groups in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The Asian American population in the U.S. comprises various, ethnically diverse subgroups. Traditionally, this population has been studied as a single, aggregated group, potentially masking differences in risk among subgroups. Analyses using disaggregated data can help better characterize the health needs of different Asian subpopulations and inform targeted, effective public health interventions. We assessed the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) and their associations with socioeconomic factors among Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino and Other Asian subjects, compared with non-Hispanic White (NHW) subjects in the U.S. METHODS: : Cross-sectional study using data from 298,286 adults from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2007 to 2018. We utilized chi-squared tests to compare characteristics across subgroups. Weighted proportions and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were utilized to examine the associations between Asian subgroups, self-reported CVD risk factors and self-reported ASCVD, as well as between socioeconomic factors within each Asian subgroup. RESULTS: : Asian Indian subjects had the highest prevalence of diabetes (12.5%), while Filipino subjects had the highest prevalence of hyperlipidemia (27.7%), hypertension (29.8%) and obesity (19.8%). Despite this, the prevalence of self-reported ASCVD was lower in all Asian groups compared with NHWs. Chinese subjects had the lowest odds of having each of the CVD risk factors assessed. CONCLUSION: : We found considerable heterogeneity in the distribution of risk factors as well as ASCVD among Asian subgroups in the US. Compared with health system or community-based reports, the prevalence of risk factors and ASCVD may be underestimated in some Asian NHIS subgroups. There is an urgent need for efforts to improve recruitment of Asian participants of heterogeneous socioeconomic backgrounds in national surveys, as well as to perform a thorough assessment of risk factors and disease in this population, not relying solely on self-report.

Community and Social Context: An Important Social Determinant of Cardiovascular Disease.

Disease prevention frameworks and clinical practice guidelines in the United States (US) have traditionally ignored upstream social determinants of health (SDOH), which are critical for reducing disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-the leading cause of death in the US. Existing evidence demonstrates a protective effect of social support, social cohesion, and community engagement on overall health and wellbeing. Increasing community and social support is a major objective of the Healthy People 2030 initiative, with special provisions for vulnerable populations. However, to date, existing evidence of the association between community and social context (CSC)-an integral SDOH domain-and CVD has not been reviewed extensively. In particular, the individual and cumulative impact of CSC on CVD risk and the pathways linking CSC to cardiovascular outcomes are not well understood. In this review, we critically appraise current knowledge of the association between CSC and CVD, describe potential pathways linking CSC to CVD, and identify opportunities for evidence-based policy and practice interventions to improve CVD outcomes.

Scope and Social Determinants of Food Insecurity Among Adults With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the United States.

Background Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) results in high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures predisposing to food insecurity. However, the burden and determinants of food insecurity in this population are unknown. Methods and Results Using 2013 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey data, we evaluated the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of food insecurity among adults with ASCVD in the United States. ASCVD was defined as self-reported diagnosis of coronary heart disease or stroke. Food security was measured using the 10-item US Adult Food Security Survey Module. Of the 190 113 study participants aged 18 years or older, 18 442 (adjusted prevalence 8.2%) had ASCVD, representing ≈20 million US adults annually. Among adults with ASCVD, 2968 or 14.6% (weighted ≈2.9 million US adults annually) reported food insecurity compared with 9.1% among those without ASCVD (P<0.001). Individuals with ASCVD who were younger (odds ratio [OR], 4.0 [95% CI, 2.8-5.8]), women (OR, 1.2 [1.0-1.3]), non-Hispanic Black (OR, 2.3 [1.9-2.8]), or Hispanic (OR, 1.6 [1.2-2.0]), had private (OR, 1.8 [1.4-2.3]) or no insurance (OR, 2.3 [1.7-3.1]), were divorced/widowed/separated (OR, 1.2 [1.0-1.4]), and had low family income (OR, 4.7 [4.0-5.6]) were more likely to be food insecure. Among those with ASCVD and 6 of these high-risk characteristics, 53.7% reported food insecurity and they had 36-times (OR, 36.2 [22.6-57.9]) higher odds of being food insecure compared with those with ≤1 high-risk characteristic. Conclusion About 1 in 7 US adults with ASCVD experience food insecurity, with more than 1 in 2 adults reporting food insecurity among the most vulnerable sociodemographic subgroups. There is an urgent need to address the barriers related to food security in this population.

Social Determinants of Adherence to COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Measures Among Adults With Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDOH) may limit the practice of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk mitigation guidelines with health implications for individuals with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). Population-based evidence of the association between SDOH and practicing such mitigation strategies in adults with CVD is lacking. We used the National Opinion Research Center's COVID-19 Household Impact Survey conducted between April and June 2020 to evaluate sociodemographic disparities in adherence to COVID-19 risk mitigation measures in a sample of respondents with underlying CVD representing 18 geographic areas of the United States. METHODS: CVD status was ascertained by self-reported history of receiving heart disease, heart attack, or stroke diagnosis. We built de novo, a cumulative index of SDOH burden using education, insurance, economic stability, 30-day food security, urbanicity, neighborhood quality, and integration. We described the practice of measures under the broad strategies of personal protection (mask, hand hygiene, and physical distancing), social distancing (avoiding crowds, restaurants, social activities, and high-risk contact), and work flexibility (work from home, canceling/postponing work). We reported prevalence ratios and 95% CIs for the association between SDOH burden (quartiles of cumulative indices) and practicing these measures adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidity, and interview wave. RESULTS: Two thousand thirty-six of 25 269 (7.0%) adults, representing 8.69 million in 18 geographic areas of the United States, reported underlying CVD. Compared with the least SDOH burden, fewer individuals with the greatest SDOH burden practiced all personal protection (75.6% versus 89.0%) and social distancing measures (41.9% versus 58.9%) and had any flexible work schedule (26.2% versus 41.4%). These associations remained statistically significant after full adjustment: personal protection (prevalence ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.73-0.96]; P=0.009), social distancing (prevalence ratio, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.51-0.94]; P=0.018), and work flexibility (prevalence ratio, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.36-0.79]; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: SDOH burden is associated with lower COVID-19 risk mitigation practices in the CVD population. Identifying and prioritizing individuals whose medical vulnerability is compounded by social adversity may optimize emerging preventive efforts, including vaccination guidelines.

Associations between particulate matter air pollution, presence and progression of subclinical coronary and carotid atherosclerosis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution has been linked with increased cardiovascular events and mortality, however, studies had shown inconsistent associations between PM exposure and subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: We performed an updated systematic literature review to identify studies evaluating the associations between PM and subclinical atherosclerosis, measured using presence/progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) or carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in adult populations. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included: 5 cohorts and 13 cross-sectional. Amongst 7 studies that evaluated the associations between PM and prevalence of CAC, 4 reported significantly higher odds of detectable CAC>0 or CAC>400 with increased PM exposure. Nine studies evaluated the association between exposure to at least one of the particulates and CIMT; of these, 6 reported significant independent associations. Two studies evaluated PM2.5 and CAC progression, with 1 reporting a greater progression of CAC with increased exposure to PM, while 3 out of 4 studies evaluating CIMT progression showed no significant difference in CIMT progression with a higher PM2.5 exposure. Additionally, 3 studies found significant associations between proximity to major roadways and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis. Among null studies, most displayed non-significant trends towards higher atherosclerosis burden with higher PM exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, available observational studies support a positive association between PM exposure and subclinical atherosclerosis. Further longitudinal studies are needed to better establish this relationship and assess the efficacy of previously identified interventions on mitigation of clinical cardiovascular disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Chronic inflammatory diseases including human immunodeficiency virus infection, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus predispose to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common chronic inflammatory condition, and the United States has the highest prevalence worldwide. IBD has so far been overlooked as a contributor to the burden of ASCVD among young and middle-age adults, but meta-analyses of cohort studies suggest that IBD is an independent risk factor for ASCVD. This review discusses the epidemiological links between IBD and ASCVD and potential mechanisms underlying these associations. ASCVD risk management of patients with IBD is challenging because of their young age and the inability of current risk scores to fully capture their increased risk. The role of IBD in current primary prevention guidelines is evaluated, and strategies for enhanced ASCVD risk reduction in patients with IBD are outlined. Finally, the authors discuss knowledge gaps and future research directions in this innovative field.

Association of cardiovascular risk profile with healthcare expenditure and resource utilization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with and without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden in the United States (US). While previous reports have shown that an optimal cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) profile is associated with improved outcomes among COPD patients, the impact of ASCVD and CRF on healthcare costs and resource utilization is not well described. METHODS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) database was used from 2011 to 2016 to study healthcare expenditure for COPD patients with and without ASCVD and across CRF profiles in a nationally representative population of adults in the United States. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 14,807 adults with COPD, representing 28 million cases annually. Presence of ASCVD was associated with higher reported expenditure across the spectrum of CRF profiles among those with COPD. On average, after adjusting for confounders, presence of ASCVD represented a mean difference per capita of $5438 (95% CI $4121 - $6754; p â€‹< â€‹0.001). Mean per capita expenditures were significantly higher comparing poor vs optimal CRF profiles, with marginal expenditures of $8552 and $6531 among those with and without ASCVD, respectively. When comparing individuals with ASCVD and poor CRF profile versus individuals without ASCVD and optimal CRF profile, those in the latter group used 13% fewer prescription medications and required 24% fewer hospitalizations. Furthermore, an optimal CRF profile was associated with lower odds of most sources of healthcare utilization regardless of ASCVD status. CONCLUSION: An absence of ASCVD and a favorable CRF profile was associated with lower healthcare expenditure and resource utilization among patients with COPD. These results provide robust estimates for potential healthcare savings as preemptive strategies continue to become integrated into new healthcare delivery models, for increased awareness and the need for improvement of CRF profiles among high-risk patients.