Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health in Asian Americans: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

To achieve cardiovascular health (CVH) equity in the United States, an understanding of the social and structural factors that contribute to differences and disparities in health is necessary. The Asian American population is the fastest-growing racial group in the United States but remains persistently underrepresented in health research. There is heterogeneity in how individual Asian American ethnic groups experience CVH and cardiovascular disease outcomes, with certain ethnic groups experiencing a higher burden of adverse social conditions, disproportionately high burden of suboptimal CVH, or excess adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes. In this scientific statement, upstream structural and social determinants that influence CVH in the Asian American population are highlighted, with particular emphasis on the role of social determinants of health across disaggregated Asian American ethnic groups. Key social determinants that operate in Asian American communities include socioeconomic position, immigration and nativity, social and physical environments, food and nutrition access, and health system-level factors. The role of underlying structural factors such as health, social, and economic policies and structural racism is also discussed in the context of CVH in Asian Americans. To improve individual-, community-, and population-level CVH and to reduce CVH disparities in Asian American ethnic subgroups, multilevel interventions that address adverse structural and social determinants are critical to achieve CVH equity for the Asian American population. Critical research gaps for the Asian American population are given, along with recommendations for strategic approaches to investigate social determinants of health and intervene to reduce health disparities in these communities.

2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs). METHODS: The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2024 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2023 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. The AHA strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional global data, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains. RESULTS: Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics. CONCLUSIONS: The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Social and Psychosocial Determinants of Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Health in the United States Population.

BACKGROUND: Social and psychosocial factors are associated with cardiovascular health (CVH). Our objective was to examine the contributions of individual-level social and psychosocial factors to racial and ethnic differences in population CVH in the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys) 2011 to 2018, to inform strategies to mitigate CVH inequities. METHODS: In NHANES participants ages ≥20 years, Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition estimated the statistical contribution of individual-level factors (education, income, food security, marital status, health insurance, place of birth, depression) to racial and ethnic differences in population mean CVH score (range, 0-14, accounting for diet, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose) among Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian, or non-Hispanic Black adults compared with non-Hispanic White adults. RESULTS: Among 16 172 participants (representing 255 million US adults), 24% were Hispanic, 12% non-Hispanic Asian, 23% non-Hispanic Black, and 41% non-Hispanic White. Among men, mean (SE) CVH score was 7.45 (2.3) in Hispanic, 8.71 (2.2) in non-Hispanic Asian, 7.48 (2.4) in non-Hispanic Black, and 7.58 (2.3) in non-Hispanic White adults. In Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition, education explained the largest component of CVH differences among men (if distribution of education were similar to non-Hispanic White participants, CVH score would be 0.36 [0.04] points higher in Hispanic, 0.24 [0.04] points lower in non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.23 [0.03] points higher in non-Hispanic Black participants; P<0.05). Among women, mean (SE) CVH score was 8.03 (2.4) in Hispanic, 9.34 (2.1) in non-Hispanic Asian, 7.43 (2.3) in non-Hispanic Black, and 8.00 (2.5) in non-Hispanic White adults. Education explained the largest component of CVH difference in non-Hispanic Black women (if distribution of education were similar to non-Hispanic White participants, CVH score would be 0.17 [0.03] points higher in non-Hispanic Black participants; P<0.05). Place of birth (born in the United States versus born outside the United States) explained the largest component of CVH difference in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian women (if distribution of place of birth were similar to non-Hispanic White participants, CVH score would be 0.36 [0.07] points lower and 0.49 [0.16] points lower, respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Education and place of birth confer the largest statistical contributions to the racial and ethnic differences in mean CVH score among US adults.

Race-Based Differences in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Process Metrics and Mortality From 2015 Through 2021: An Analysis of 178 062 Patients From the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND: Systems of care have been developed across the United States to standardize care processes and improve outcomes in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The effect of contemporary STEMI systems of care on racial and ethnic disparities in achievement of time-to-treatment goals and mortality in STEMI is uncertain. METHODS: We analyzed 178 062 patients with STEMI (52 293 women and 125 769 men) enrolled in the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease registry between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2021. Patients were stratified into and outcomes compared among 3 racial and ethnic groups: non-Hispanic White, Hispanic White, and Black. The primary outcomes were the proportions of patients achieving the following STEMI process metrics: prehospital ECG obtained by emergency medical services; hospital arrival to ECG obtained within 10 minutes for patients not transported by emergency medical services; arrival-to-percutaneous coronary intervention time within 90 minutes; and first medical contact-to-device time within 90 minutes. A secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Analyses were performed separately in women and men, and all outcomes were adjusted for age, comorbidities, acuity of presentation, insurance status, and socioeconomic status measured by social vulnerability index based on patients' county of residence. RESULTS: Compared with non-Hispanic White patients with STEMI, Hispanic White patients and Black patients had lower odds of receiving a prehospital ECG and achieving targets for door-to-ECG, door-to-device, and first medical contact-to-device times. These racial disparities in treatment goals were observed in both women and men, and persisted in most cases after multivariable adjustment. Compared with non-Hispanic White women, Hispanic White women had higher adjusted in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.12-1.72]), whereas Black women did not (odds ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.74-1.03]). Compared with non-Hispanic White men, adjusted in-hospital mortality was similar in Hispanic White men (odds ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.82-1.18]) and Black men (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.85-1.09]). CONCLUSIONS: Race- or ethnicity-based disparities persist in STEMI process metrics in both women and men, and mortality differences are observed in Hispanic White compared with non-Hispanic White women. Further research is essential to evolve systems of care to mitigate racial differences in STEMI outcomes.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs). METHODS: The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains. RESULTS: Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics. CONCLUSIONS: The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Rural-urban differences in pulmonary embolism mortality by race-ethnicity and sex in the United States, 1999-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Racial and ethnic differences in pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality within rural and urban regions in the U.S. have not previously been described. PE mortality may vary across regions and urbanization given disparities in social and structural determinants and comorbid disease. METHODS: Using surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) related to PE were calculated for rural and urban regions in the U.S., in non-Hispanic Black and White women and men, between 1999 and 2020. RESULTS: Among 137,946 deaths in urban regions and 41,333 deaths in rural regions due to PE during this period, AAMR decreased 1.8% per year in urban regions from 3.1 to 100,000 in 1999 to 2.2 per 100,000 in 2020, and decreased 1% per year in rural regions from 4.3 to 100,000 in 1999 to 3.3 per 100,000 in 2020. Since 2008, AAMR from PE increased in non-Hispanic White males in rural and urban regions, decreased in non-Hispanic Black females in rural regions, and otherwise remained stagnant in all other race-sex groups. CONCLUSIONS: AAMR from PE was higher in rural compared with urban individuals, with differences by race and sex. Mortality rates remained stagnant over the last decade in non-Hispanic Black adults and non-Hispanic White females and increased in non-Hispanic White males.

Associations of Clinical and Social Risk Factors With Racial Differences in Premature Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Racial differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) are likely related to differences in clinical and social factors. The relative contributions of these factors to Black-White differences in premature CVD have not been investigated. METHODS: In Black and White adults aged 18 to 30 years at baseline in the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), the associations of clinical, lifestyle, depression, socioeconomic, and neighborhood factors across young adulthood with racial differences in incident premature CVD were evaluated in sex-stratified, multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models using multiply imputed data assuming missing at random. Percent reduction in the ß estimate (log-hazard ratio [HR]) for race quantified the contribution of each factor group to racial differences in incident CVD. RESULTS: Among 2785 Black and 2327 White participants followed for a median 33.9 years (25th-75th percentile, 33.7-34.0), Black (versus White) adults had a higher risk of incident premature CVD (Black women: HR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.71-3.49], Black men: HR, 1.59 [1.20-2.10] adjusted for age and center). Racial differences were not statistically significant after full adjustment (Black women: HR, 0.91 [0.55-1.52], Black men: HR 1.02 [0.70-1.49]). In women, the largest magnitude percent reduction in the ß estimate for race occurred with adjustment for clinical (87%), neighborhood (32%), and socioeconomic (23%) factors. In men, the largest magnitude percent reduction in the ß estimate for race occurred with an adjustment for clinical (64%), socioeconomic (50%), and lifestyle (34%) factors. CONCLUSIONS: In CARDIA, the significantly higher risk for premature CVD in Black versus White adults was statistically explained by adjustment for antecedent multilevel factors. The largest contributions to racial differences were from clinical and neighborhood factors in women, and clinical and socioeconomic factors in men.

Physical activity and TV viewing parenting practices for toddlers among South Asian and white families in the UK: born in Bradford 1000 study.

BACKGROUND: Children of South Asian (SA) origin in the UK have lower levels of physical activity (PA), compared to their White counterparts. Parents play an important role in establishing PA habits among young children. The aim of this study was to compare PA and television (TV) viewing parenting practices for young children between SA British (SAB) and White British (WB) parents living in the UK. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford (BiB) 1000 study, using survey data at child ages 24 and 36 months. The study sample included three groups of mothers (n = 1,149): foreign-born SAB (n = 458), UK-born SAB (n = 276), and WB (n = 455). Mothers completed a survey about parenting practices (i.e., PA supports, PA restrictions, TV viewing restrictions) at child age 24 months and child PA and TV viewing behaviors at child ages 24 and 36 months. Parenting practices were compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared children's weekly walking frequency and daily TV viewing hours by parenting practices in the three groups. RESULTS: The foreign-born SAB group showed the lowest frequencies of PA-supportive parenting practices (verbal encouragement: 3.7 ± 3.1 times/week; logistic support: 1.5 ± 1.8 times/week) and the highest frequencies of PA-restrictive parenting practices (7.8 ± 7.7 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Children of Foreign-born SAB mothers had the most frequent TV watching during a mealtime (4.0 ± 3.1 times/week) among the three groups (p < 0.01). Less frequent PA-supportive parenting practices and SA ethnicity were associated with lower walking frequency at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). More frequent exposure to TV at mealtimes and SA ethnicity were associated with higher TV viewing time at 24 and 36 months of age among children (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that SAB parents, particularly those who are foreign-born, apply parenting practices for their young children that are less supportive of PA and more supportive of TV viewing, and their children have lower PA and higher TV viewing time, compared with their WB counterparts.

Heterogeneity in Obesity Prevalence Among Asian American Adults.

BACKGROUND: Obesity increases the risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disease, and this risk occurs at lower body mass index (BMI) thresholds in Asian adults than in White adults. The degree to which obesity prevalence varies across heterogeneous Asian American subgroups is unclear because most obesity estimates combine all Asian Americans into a single group. OBJECTIVE: To quantify obesity prevalence in Asian American subgroups among U.S. adults using both standard BMI categorizations and categorizations tailored to Asian populations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: United States, 2013 to 2020. PARTICIPANTS: The analytic sample included 2 882 158 adults aged 18 years or older in the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (2013 to 2020). Participants self-identified as non-Hispanic White ([NHW] n = 2 547 965); non-Hispanic Black ([NHB] n = 263 136); or non-Hispanic Asian ([NHA] n = 71 057), comprising Asian Indian (n = 13 916), Chinese (n = 11 686), Filipino (n = 11 815), Japanese (n = 12 473), Korean (n = 3634), and Vietnamese (n = 2618) Americans. MEASUREMENTS: Obesity prevalence adjusted for age and sex calculated using both standard BMI thresholds (≥30 kg/m2) and BMI thresholds modified for Asian adults (≥27.5 kg/m2), based on self-reported height and weight. RESULTS: Adjusted obesity prevalence (by standard categorization) was 11.7% (95% CI, 11.2% to 12.2%) in NHA, 39.7% (CI, 39.4% to 40.1%) in NHB, and 29.4% (CI, 29.3% to 29.5%) in NHW participants; the prevalence was 16.8% (CI, 15.2% to 18.5%) in Filipino, 15.3% (CI, 13.2% to 17.5%) in Japanese, 11.2% (CI, 10.2% to 12.2%) in Asian Indian, 8.5% (CI, 6.8% to 10.5%) in Korean, 6.5% (CI, 5.5% to 7.5%) in Chinese, and 6.3% (CI, 5.1% to 7.8%) in Vietnamese Americans. The prevalence using modified criteria (BMI ≥27.5 kg/m2) was 22.4% (CI, 21.8% to 23.1%) in NHA participants overall and 28.7% (CI, 26.8% to 30.7%) in Filipino, 26.7% (CI, 24.1% to 29.5%) in Japanese, 22.4% (CI, 21.1% to 23.7%) in Asian Indian, 17.4% (CI, 15.2% to 19.8%) in Korean, 13.6% (CI, 11.7% to 15.9%) in Vietnamese, and 13.2% (CI, 12.0% to 14.5%) in Chinese Americans. LIMITATION: Body mass index estimates rely on self-reported data. CONCLUSION: Substantial heterogeneity in obesity prevalence exists among Asian American subgroups in the United States. Future studies and public health efforts should consider this heterogeneity. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Cardiovascular risk factor profiles in North and South Indian and Pakistani Americans: The MASALA Study.

South Asians in the United States have disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular disease compared to other race/ethnic groups but are a heterogenous population, so we evaluated differences in prevalence and adjusted odds of cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity between North Indian, South Indian, and Pakistani immigrants in the United States in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study. Given cultural differences among residents of Indian regions, for example in dietary patterns, we categorized Indian participants as North or South Indian. In 1,018 participants (728 North Indian [47% women], 223 South Indian [43% women], 67 Pakistani [52% women]), unadjusted diabetes and obesity prevalence was highest in Pakistani participants (33% and 48%, respectively); hypertension prevalence was highest in North Indian participants (54%); dyslipidemia prevalence was highest in South Indian and Pakistani participants (55%); and South Indian participants had a higher odds of dyslipidemia (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.27, 2.47) compared with North Indian participants in fully adjusted models. As differences in cardiovascular risk factors were observed across South Asian American subgroups, identifying the determinants of suboptimal cardiovascular health within South Asian American subgroups may help to better tailor cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.

Self-Reported Diabetes Prevalence in Asian American Subgroups: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013-2019.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States (US). Prior DM prevalence estimates in Asian Americans are predominantly from Asians aggregated into a single group, but the Asian American population is heterogenous. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate self-reported DM prevalence in disaggregated Asian American subgroups to inform targeted management and prevention. DESIGN: Serial cross-sectional analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents to the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys who self-identify as non-Hispanic Asian American (NHA, N=57,001), comprising Asian Indian (N=11,089), Chinese (N=9458), Filipino (N=9339), Japanese (N=10,387), and Korean Americans (N=2843), compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW, N=2,143,729) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB, N=215,957) Americans. MAIN MEASURES: Prevalence of self-reported DM. Univariate Satterthwaite-adjusted chi-square tests compared the differences in weighted DM prevalence by sociodemographic and health status. KEY RESULTS: Self-reported fully adjusted DM prevalence was 8.7% (95% confidence interval 8.2-9.3) in NHA, compared to 14.3% (14.0-14.6) in NHB and 10.0% (10.0-10.1) in NHW (p<0.01 for difference). In NHA subgroups overall, DM prevalence was 14.4% (12.6-16.3) in Filipino, 13.4% (10.9-16.2) in Japanese, 10.7% (9.6-11.8) in Asian Indian, 5.1% (4.2-6.2) in Chinese, and 4.7% (3.4-6.3) in Korean Americans (p<0.01). Among those aged ≥65 years, DM prevalence was highest in Filipino (35.0% (29.4-41.2)) and Asian Indian (31.5% (25.9-37.8)) Americans. Adjusted for sex, education, and race/ethnicity-specific obesity category, NHA overall had a 21% higher DM prevalence compared to NHW (prevalence ratio 1.21 [1.14-1.27]), while prevalence ratios were 1.42 (1.24-1.63) in Filipinos and 1.29 (1.14-1.46) in Asian Indians. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusted self-reported DM prevalence is higher in NHA compared with NHW. Disaggregating NHA reveals heterogeneity in self-reported DM prevalence, highest in Filipino and Asian Indian Americans.

Distribution and Correlates of Incident Heart Failure Risk in South Asian Americans: The MASALA Study.

BACKGROUND: South Asian Americans experience disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular diseases. Estimating predicted heart failure (HF) risk distribution may facilitate targeted prevention. We estimated the distribution of 10-year predicted risk of incident HF in South Asian Americans and evaluated the associations with social determinants of health and clinical risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study, we calculated 10-year predicted HF risk using the Pooled Cohort Equations to Prevent Heart Failure multivariable model. Distributions of low (<1%), intermediate (1%-5%), and high (≥5%) HF risk, identified overall and by demographic and clinical characteristics, were compared. We evaluated age- and sex-adjusted associations of demographic characteristics and coronary artery calcium with predicted HF risk category using ordinal logistic regression. In 1159 participants (48% women), with a mean age of 57 ± 9 years, 40% had a low, 37% had an intermediate, and 24% had a high HF risk. Significant differences in HF risk distribution existed across demographic (income, education, birthplace) and clinical (diabetes, hypertension, body mass index, coronary artery calcium) groups (P < .01). Significant associations with high predicted HF risk were observed for a family of income 75,000/year or more (adjusted odds ratio 0.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-0.7]), college education (0.6 [95% CI 0.4-0.9]), birthplace in another South Asian country (1.9 [95% CI 1.2-3.2], vs. born in India), and prevalent coronary artery calcium (2.6 [95% CI 1.9-3.6]). CONCLUSIONS: Almost two-thirds of South Asian Americans in the MASALA cohort are at intermediate or high predicted 10-year HF risk, with varying risk across demographic and clinical characteristics.

Trends in Gestational Diabetes at First Live Birth by Race and Ethnicity in the US, 2011-2019.

Importance: Gestational diabetes is associated with adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. Objective: To determine whether rates of gestational diabetes among individuals at first live birth changed from 2011 to 2019 and how these rates differ by race and ethnicity in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants: Serial cross-sectional analysis using National Center for Health Statistics data for 12 610 235 individuals aged 15 to 44 years with singleton first live births from 2011 to 2019 in the US. Exposures: Gestational diabetes data stratified by the following race and ethnicity groups: Hispanic/Latina (including Central and South American, Cuban, Mexican, and Puerto Rican); non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (including Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipina, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese); non-Hispanic Black; and non-Hispanic White. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were age-standardized rates of gestational diabetes (per 1000 live births) and respective mean annual percent change and rate ratios (RRs) of gestational diabetes in non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (overall and in subgroups), non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic/Latina (overall and in subgroups) individuals relative to non-Hispanic White individuals (referent group). Results: Among the 12 610 235 included individuals (mean [SD] age, 26.3 [5.8] years), the overall age-standardized gestational diabetes rate significantly increased from 47.6 (95% CI, 47.1-48.0) to 63.5 (95% CI, 63.1-64.0) per 1000 live births from 2011 to 2019, a mean annual percent change of 3.7% (95% CI, 2.8%-4.6%) per year. Of the 12 610 235 participants, 21% were Hispanic/Latina (2019 gestational diabetes rate, 66.6 [95% CI, 65.6-67.7]; RR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.13-1.18]), 8% were non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (2019 gestational diabetes rate, 102.7 [95% CI, 100.7-104.7]; RR, 1.78 [95% CI, 1.74-1.82]), 14% were non-Hispanic Black (2019 gestational diabetes rate, 55.7 [95% CI, 54.5-57.0]; RR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94-0.99]), and 56% were non-Hispanic White (2019 gestational diabetes rate, 57.7 [95% CI, 57.2-58.3]; referent group). Gestational diabetes rates were highest in Asian Indian participants (2019 gestational diabetes rate, 129.1 [95% CI, 100.7-104.7]; RR, 2.24 [95% CI, 2.15-2.33]). Among Hispanic/Latina participants, gestational diabetes rates were highest among Puerto Rican individuals (2019 gestational diabetes rate, 75.8 [95% CI, 71.8-79.9]; RR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.24-1.39]). Gestational diabetes rates increased among all race and ethnicity subgroups and across all age groups. Conclusions and Relevance: Among individuals with a singleton first live birth in the US from 2011 to 2019, rates of gestational diabetes increased across all racial and ethnic subgroups. Differences in absolute gestational diabetes rates were observed across race and ethnicity subgroups.

Social networks as facilitators and barriers to behavior change among U.S. South Asian adult participants of a culturally adapted, group lifestyle intervention.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to characterize how social networks influence cardiovascular health behaviors among U.S. South Asian adults in a culturally adapted, group lifestyle intervention. METHODS: A purposive sample of participants (n = 24) from the South Asian Healthy Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) randomized trial's intervention arm participated in semi-structured process evaluation interviews. Specific open-ended questions were used to probe participants' behavior changes, personal social networks, and social support for behavior change. The team transcribed interviews and identified themes using inductive and deductive coding, based on a theoretical model of social influence. RESULTS: Among 24 participants (67 % female, mean age 50.5 years, 88 % foreign-born, 50 % with limited English proficiency), three themes emerged: 1) SAHELI participants and their family members provided bidirectional social support for behavior change; 2) intervention participants provided social support to one another; and 3) participants faced resistance to change from some community members. CONCLUSIONS: Behavior changes initiated during SAHELI diffused to participants' close family members. Several social network influences varied by participant gender, English language proficiency, and network member type. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Health professionals should ask patients about how their social networks facilitate or hinder behavior changes. Gender and cultural factors may modify how social networks influence behavior change.

An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Although cardiovascular disease mortality rates in the United States declined from the 1970s to 2010s, they have now plateaued. The independent effects of age, period, and birth year (cohort) on cardiovascular disease mortality have not previously been defined. METHODS: We used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research to examine the effects of age, period, and cohort on cardiovascular disease mortality among individuals aged 20-84 years from 1999 to 2018, prior to the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Age effects were described as cardiovascular disease-related mortality rates in each 5-year age group adjusted for year of death (period) and year of birth (cohort). Period and cohort effects were quantified as adjusted rate ratios (RRs) comparing cardiovascular disease mortality rates in each period and cohort to the reference periods and reference cohort (ie, 1919 birth cohort), respectively. RESULTS: Between 1999 to 2018, there were 10,404,327 cardiovascular disease deaths among US adults. In each individual birth cohort, the age-specific cardiovascular disease mortality rates were stable between ages 20 through 39 years. Age-specific rates were higher for each year older between ages 40 through 84 years adjusting for period effects. The period cardiovascular disease mortality rates were lower in later periods (2004-2008 period RR 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85 to 0.88; 2009-2013 period RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.80) compared with the reference period (1999 to 2003) and plateaued thereafter. The cohort cardiovascular disease mortality rates were progressively lower in more recent birth cohorts (1924 birth cohort RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.87; 1974 birth cohort RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.32) compared with the reference cohort (1919 cohort) and plateaued thereafter. CONCLUSION: Although cardiovascular disease mortality rates declined rapidly among those born between 1919 and 1974, improvements plateaued in birth cohorts thereafter even adjusted for period effects.

Maternal Nativity and Preterm Birth.

Importance: Preterm birth is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, and considerable differences exist in rates of preterm birth among maternal racial and ethnic groups. Emerging evidence suggests pregnant individuals born outside the US have fewer obstetric complications than those born in the US, but the intersection of maternal nativity with race and ethnicity for preterm birth is not well studied. Objective: To determine if there is an association between maternal nativity and preterm birth rates among nulliparous individuals, and whether that association differs by self-reported race and ethnicity of the pregnant individual. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a nationwide, cross-sectional study conducted using National Center for Health Statistics birth registration records for 8 590 988 nulliparous individuals aged 15 to 44 years with singleton live births in the US from 2014 to 2019. Data were analyzed from March to May 2022. Exposures: Maternal nativity (non-US-born compared with US-born individuals as the reference, wherein US-born was defined as born within 1 of the 50 US states or Washington, DC) in the overall sample and stratified by self-reported ethnicity and race, including non-Hispanic Asian and disaggregated Asian subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Pacific Islander, Vietnamese, and other Asian), non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic and disaggregated Hispanic subgroups (Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic), and non-Hispanic White. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) and the secondary outcome was very preterm birth (<32 weeks of gestation). Results: Of 8 590 988 pregnant individuals included (mean [SD] age at delivery, 28.3 [5.8] years in non-US-born individuals and 26.2 [5.7] years in US-born individuals; 159 497 [2.3%] US-born and 552 938 [31.2%] non-US-born individuals self-identified as Asian or Pacific Islander, 1 050 367 [15.4%] US-born and 178 898 [10.1%] non-US-born individuals were non-Hispanic Black, 1 100 337 [16.1%] US-born and 711 699 [40.2%] non-US-born individuals were of Hispanic origin, and 4 512 294 [66.1%] US-born and 328 205 [18.5%] non-US-born individuals were non-Hispanic White), age-standardized rates of preterm birth were lower among non-US-born individuals compared with US-born individuals (10.2%; 95% CI, 10.2-10.3 vs 10.9%; 95% CI, 10.9-11.0) with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.89-0.90). The greatest relative difference was observed among Japanese individuals (aOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60-0.79) and non-Hispanic Black individuals (aOR, 0.74; 0.73-0.76) individuals. Non-US-born Pacific Islander individuals experienced higher preterm birth rates compared with US-born Pacific Islander individuals (aOR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.27). Puerto Rican individuals born in Puerto Rico compared with those born in US states or Washington, DC, also had higher preterm birth rates (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12). Conclusions and Relevance: Overall preterm birth rates were lower among non-US-born individuals compared with US-born individuals. However, there was substantial heterogeneity in preterm birth rates across maternal racial and ethnic groups, particularly among disaggregated Asian and Hispanic subgroups.

Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rates and Excess Deaths, 2010-2022.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality increased during the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but whether these trends endured in 2022 is unknown. This analysis describes temporal trends in CVD death rates from 2010 to 2022 and estimates excess CVD deaths from 2020 to 2022. METHODS: Using national mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System, deaths among adults aged ≥35 years were classified by underlying cause of death International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes for CVD (I00-I99), heart disease (I00-I09, I11, I13, I20-I51), and stroke (I60-I69). Analyses in Joinpoint software identified trends in CVD age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 and estimated the number of excess CVD deaths from 2020 to 2022. RESULTS: During 2010-2022, 10,951,403 CVD deaths occurred (75.6% heart disease, 16.9% stroke). The national CVD AAMR declined by 8.9% from 2010 to 2019 (456.6-416.0 per 100,000) and then increased by 9.3% from 2019 to 2022 to 454.5 per 100,000, which approximated the 2010 rate (456.7 per 100,000). From 2020 to 2022, 228,524 excess CVD deaths occurred, which was 9% more CVD deaths than expected based on trends from 2010 to 2019. Results varied by CVD subtype and population subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Despite stabilization of the public health emergency, declines in CVD mortality rates reversed in 2020 and remained high in 2022, representing almost a decade of lost progress and over 228,000 excess CVD deaths. Findings underscore the importance of prioritizing prevention and management of CVD to improve outcomes.

Elevated Blood Pressure in Pregnancy and Long-Term Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between elevated blood pressure (BP) in the early third trimester and cardiometabolic health 10-14 years after delivery. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from the prospective HAPO FUS (Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Follow-Up Study). Blood pressure in the early third trimester was categorized per American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association thresholds for: normal BP below 120/80 mm Hg (reference), elevated BP 120-129/below 80 mm Hg, stage 1 hypertension 130-139/80-89 mm Hg, and stage 2 hypertension 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Cardiometabolic outcomes assessed 10-14 years after the index pregnancy were type 2 diabetes mellitus and measures of dyslipidemia, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 130 mg/dL or higher, total cholesterol 200 mg/dL or higher, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol 40 mg/dL or lower, and triglycerides 200 mg/dL or higher. Adjusted analysis was performed with the following covariates: study field center, follow-up duration, age, body mass index (BMI), height, family history of hypertension and diabetes, smoking and alcohol use, parity, and oral glucose tolerance test glucose z score. RESULTS: Among 4,692 pregnant individuals at a median gestational age of 27.9 weeks (interquartile range 26.6-28.9 weeks), 8.5% (n=399) had elevated BP, 14.9% (n=701) had stage 1 hypertension, and 6.4% (n=302) had stage 2 hypertension. At a median follow-up of 11.6 years, among individuals with elevated BP, there was a higher frequency of diabetes (elevated BP: adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.88, 95% CI, 1.06-3.35; stage 1 hypertension: aRR 2.58, 95% CI, 1.62-4.10; stage 2 hypertension: aRR 2.83, 95% CI, 1.65-4.95) compared with those with normal BP. Among individuals with elevated BP, there was a higher frequency of elevated LDL cholesterol (elevated BP: aRR 1.27, 95% CI, 1.03-1.57; stage 1 hypertension: aRR 1.22, 95% CI, 1.02-1.45, and stage 2 hypertension: aRR 1.38, 95% CI, 1.10-1.74), elevated total cholesterol (elevated BP: aRR 1.27, 95% CI, 1.07-1.52; stage 1 hypertension: aRR 1.16, 95% CI, 1.00-1.35; stage 2 hypertension: aRR 1.41 95% CI, 1.16-1.71), and elevated triglycerides (elevated BP: aRR 2.24, 95% CI, 1.42-3.53; stage 1 hypertension: aRR 2.15, 95% CI, 1.46-3.17; stage 2 hypertension: aRR 3.24, 95% CI, 2.05-5.11) but not of low HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The frequency of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes at 10-14 years after delivery was progressively higher among pregnant individuals with BP greater than 120/80 in the early third trimester.