Reallocating time between device-measured 24-hour activities and cardiovascular risk in Asian American immigrant women: An isotemporal substitution model.

The 24-hour day consists of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep, and changing the time spent on one activity affects the others. Little is known about the impact of such changes on cardiovascular risk, particularly in Asian American immigrant (AAI) women, who not only have a higher cardiovascular risk but also place greater cultural value on family and domestic responsibilities compared to other racial/ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of reallocating 30 minutes of each 24-hour activity component for another on BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure in AAI women. Seventy-five AAI women completed 7 days of hip and wrist actigraphy monitoring and were included in the analysis (age = 61.5±8.0 years, BMI = 25.5±3.6 kg/m2, waist circumference = 85.9±10.2 cm). Sleep was identified from wrist actigraphy data, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA, and sedentary behavior identified from hip actigraphy data. On average, the women spent 0.5 hours in MVPA, 6.2 hours in light PA, 10 hours in sedentary activities, and 5.3 hours sleeping within a 24-hour day. According to the isotemporal substitution models, replacing 30 minutes of sedentary behavior with MVPA reduced BMI by 1.4 kg/m2 and waist circumference by 4.0 cm. Replacing that same sedentary time with sleep reduced BMI by 0.5 kg/m2 and waist circumference by 1.4 cm. Replacing 30 minutes of light PA with MVPA decreased BMI by 1.6 kg/m2 and waist circumference by 4.3 cm. Replacing 30 minutes of light PA with sleep also reduced BMI by 0.8 kg/m2 and waist circumference by 1.7 cm. However, none of the behavioral substitutions affected blood pressure. Considering AAI women's short sleep duration, replacing their sedentary time with sleep might be a feasible strategy to reduce their BMI and waist circumference.

Shift-and-persist strategies as a potential protective factor against symptoms of psychological distress among young adults in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: Residents of Puerto Rico are disproportionately exposed to social and environmental stressors (e.g., Hurricane María and the 2020 sequence of tremors) known to be associated with psychological distress. Shift-and-persist (SP), or the ability to adapt the self to stressors while preserving focus on the future, has been linked with lower psychological distress, but no study has evaluated this in Puerto Rico. This study examined the association between SP and psychological distress (including that from natural disasters) in a sample of young adults in Puerto Rico. METHODS: Data from the Puerto Rico-OUTLOOK study (18-29 y) were used. Participants (n = 1497) completed assessments between September 2020 and September 2022. SP was measured with the Chen scale and categorized into quartiles (SPQ1-SPQ4). Psychological distress included symptoms of depression (CESD-10), anxiety (STAI-10), post-traumatic stress disorder (Civilian Abbreviated Scale PTSD checklist), and ataque de nervios (an idiom of distress used by Latinx groups). Outcomes were dichotomized according to clinical cutoffs when available, otherwise used sample-based cutoffs. Two additional items assessed the perceived mental health impact of Hurricane María and the 2020 sequence of tremors (categorized as no/little impact vs. some/a lot). Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: The most commonly reported psychological distress outcome was PTSD (77%). In adjusted models, compared to SP Q1, persons in SP Q2-Q4 were less likely to have elevated symptoms of depression (PR Q2 = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.72-0.85; PR Q3 = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.58-0.73; and PR Q4 = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.35-0.48), PTSD (PR Q2 = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.87-0.98; PR Q3 = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.80-0.93; and PR Q4 = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.70-0.83), anxiety (PR Q2 = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.31-0.48; PR Q3 = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.20-0.37; and PR Q4 = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07-0.17) and experiences of ataque de nervios (PR Q2 = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76-0.94; PR Q3 = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.70-0.90; and PR Q4 = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.60-0.78). Compared to persons in SP Q1, persons in SP Q3-Q4 were less likely to report adverse mental health impacts from Hurricane María (PR Q3 = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55-0.79; and PR Q4 = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.44-0.65) and the 2020 sequence of tremors (PR Q3 = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98; and PR Q4 = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.59-0.94). CONCLUSION: SP was associated with lower psychological distress. Studies are needed to confirm our findings and evaluate potential mechanisms of action.

Psychosocial Factors of Women Presenting With Myocardial Infarction With or Without Obstructive Coronary Arteries.

BACKGROUND: Women with myocardial infarction (MI) are more likely to have elevated stress levels and depression than men with MI. OBJECTIVES: We investigated psychosocial factors in women with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and those with MI and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Women with MI enrolled in a multicenter study and completed measures of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) at the time of MI (baseline) and 2 months later. Stress, depression, and changes over time were compared between MI subtypes. RESULTS: We included 172 MINOCA and 314 MI-CAD patients. Women with MINOCA were younger (age 59.4 years vs 64.2 years; P < 0.001) and more diverse than those with MI-CAD. Women with MINOCA were less likely to have high stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 ≥6) at the time of MI (51.0% vs 63.0%; P = 0.021) and at 2 months post-MI (32.5% vs 46.3%; P = 0.019) than women with MI-CAD. There was no difference in elevated depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 ≥2) at the time of MI (36% vs 43%; P = 0.229) or at 2 months post-MI (39% vs 40%; P = 0.999). No differences in the rate of 2-month decline in stress and depression scores were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Stress and depression are common among women at the time of and 2 months after MI. MINOCA patients were less likely to report high stress compared with MI-CAD patients, but the frequency of elevated depressive symptoms did not differ between the 2 groups. Stress and depressive symptoms decreased in both MI-CAD and MINOCA patients over time.

Role of Resilience in the Psychological Recovery of Women With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background Psychological well-being is important among individuals with myocardial infarction (MI) given the clear links between stress, depression, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Stress and depressive disorders are more prevalent in women than men after MI. Resilience may protect against stress and depressive disorders after a traumatic event. Longitudinal data are lacking in populations post MI. We examined the role of resilience in the psychological recovery of women post MI, over time. Methods and Results We analyzed a sample from a longitudinal observational multicenter study (United States, Canada) of women post MI, between 2016 and 2020. Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 [PSS-4]) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2]) were assessed at baseline (time of MI) and 2 months post MI. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and resilience (Brief Resilience Scale [BRS]) were collected at baseline. Low and normal/high resilience groups were established as per published cutoffs (BRS scores <3 or ≥3). Mixed-effects modeling was used to examine associations between resilience and psychological recovery over 2 months. The sample included 449 women, mean (SD) age, 62.2 (13.2) years, of whom 61.1% identified as non-Hispanic White, 18.5% as non-Hispanic Black, and 15.4% as Hispanic/Latina. Twenty-three percent had low resilience. The low resilience group had significantly higher PSS-4 and PHQ-2 scores than the normal/high resilience group at all time points. In adjusted models, both groups showed a decrease in PSS-4 scores over time. Conclusions In a diverse cohort of women post MI, higher resilience is associated with better psychological recovery over time. Future work should focus on developing strategies to strengthen resilience and improve psychological well-being for women with MI. Registration URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02905357; Unique identifier: NCT02905357.

AddREssing Social Determinants TO pRevent hypErtension (The RESTORE Network): Overview of the Health Equity Research Network to Prevent Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association funded a Health Equity Research Network on the prevention of hypertension, the RESTORE Network, as part of its commitment to achieving health equity in all communities. This article provides an overview of the RESTORE Network. METHODS: The RESTORE Network includes five independent, randomized trials testing approaches to implement non-pharmacological interventions that have been proven to lower blood pressure (BP). The trials are community-based, taking place in churches in rural Alabama, mobile health units in Michigan, barbershops in New York, community health centers in Maryland, and food deserts in Massachusetts. Each trial employs a hybrid effectiveness-implementation research design to test scalable and sustainable strategies that mitigate social determinants of health (SDOH) that contribute to hypertension in Black communities. The primary outcome in each trial is change in systolic BP. The RESTORE Network Coordinating Center has five cores: BP measurement, statistics, intervention, community engagement, and training that support the trials. Standardized protocols, data elements and analysis plans were adopted in each trial to facilitate cross-trial comparisons of the implementation strategies, and application of a standard costing instrument for health economic evaluations, scale up, and policy analysis. Herein, we discuss future RESTORE Network research plans and policy outreach activities designed to advance health equity by preventing hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The RESTORE Network was designed to promote health equity in the US by testing effective and sustainable implementation strategies focused on addressing SDOH to prevent hypertension among Black adults.

Association between poor sleep quality and emotional eating in US Latinx adults and the mediating role of negative emotions.

INTRODUCTION: Poor sleep quality is associated with negative emotions and may modulate emotional eating (EE). However, this has not been studied among US Latinx adults, a group experiencing sleep disparities. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between sleep quality and EE in Latinx adults and explore the mediating role of negative emotions. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Latino Health and Well-being Study. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. EE was measured with the EE subscale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire R18-V2 (categorized as no EE, low EE, and high EE). Negative emotions were measured via a composite score that included depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. Poisson regression models with robust variance errors estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Mediation was evaluated with the Karlsson-Holm-Breen method. RESULTS: More individuals with poor (vs. good) sleep quality experienced high EE (39.1% vs. 17.9%). Individuals with poor (vs. good) sleep quality were more likely to experience high EE vs. no EE (total effect = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.26). Controlling for negative emotions, the effect of poor sleep on high EE was reduced to 1.23 (95% CI = 0.92, 1.65), leaving an indirect effect of 1.41 (95% CI = 1.25, 1.60); 62.6% of the effect was explained by negative emotions. CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality was associated with high EE in US Latinx adults and negative emotions partially mediated this relationship. Longitudinal studies are needed. Interventions and clinical programs should concomitantly address sleep quality and negative emotions to help prevent dysfunctional eating behaviors.

Association Between Optimism and Negative Emotional Eating in Caribbean Latinx Adults in the Northeast US.

BACKGROUND: Negative emotional eating (EE) is associated with unfavorable behavioral and health outcomes. Understanding its association with positive factors, such as optimism, may shed light into novel interventions. We examined the association between optimism and negative EE in US Caribbean Latinx adults, a population disproportionately exposed to adversity. METHOD: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Latino Health and Well-being Study (21-84 years; n = 579). Optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test-Revised version. EE was measured with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R18-V2. Adjusted Poisson models with robust error variance estimated prevalence ratios (PR). RESULTS: The proportion of individuals reporting high EE was greater in the low (39.0%) and moderate (36.8%) optimism groups than that in the high optimism group (24.8%; p = 0.011). Individuals with high optimism (vs. low) were less likely to report high EE over no EE (PR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.53-0.88). CONCLUSION: High optimism was negatively associated with high EE. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and test interventions promoting optimism for preventing negative EE in US Caribbean Latinx adults.

Premature discontinuation among individuals with epilepsy participating in epilepsy self-management research interventions.

OBJECTIVE: The Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network conducts epilepsy self-management (ESM) intervention development, testing, and archival clinical trials data analyses in the MEW Network Integrated Database (MEW-DB). However, not all trial participants fully benefit from ESM due to prematurely discontinuing program participation. This analysis sought to identify demographic and clinical predictors of premature discontinuation (PD) of ESM interventions available in the MEW-DB. METHODS: Data from prior studies were included if: 1) they were prospective trials testing an ESM intervention, 2) included baseline assessment and at least one post-intervention assessment, and 3) included data on PD. Dependent variables were all-cause PD, categorized as a binary variable (yes/no) and time to PD for the intervals between baseline and follow-up visit 1 (V1; approximately week 12) and visit two (V2; approximately week 24). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify factors affecting PD time-point. Explanatory variables included age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, employment, income, marital status, psychiatric comorbidities, depressive severity, anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy, number of anti-seizure medications (ASMs), health status, seizure frequency, and study design. RESULTS: Six prior MEW-DB studies were included, consisting of 627 people, where 624 were assigned to ESM or to control. PD among randomized individuals was 14.3 % by V1 and 15.7 % by V2. Predictors for V1 PD were treatment (ESM) vs. control arm, more severe depressive symptoms and having schizophrenia. Predictors for V2 PD were younger age, white race, more severe depressive symptoms and having schizophrenia. SIGNIFICANCE: While ESM approaches can improve multiple health outcomes among people with epilepsy, nearly one in six individuals prematurely discontinues their program. These findings suggest that ESM interventionists need to be particularly attentive to program retention over the first 3 months after ESM initiation. Younger people with epilepsy, those who self-identify as white, those with schizophrenia, and/or more severe depressive symptoms may need additional support for engagement.

Stress Overload and DNA Methylation in African American Women in the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure Study.

Introduction: Experiencing psychosocial stress is associated with poor health outcomes such as hypertension and obesity, which are risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. African American women experience disproportionate risk for cardiovascular disease including exposure to high levels of psychosocial stress. We hypothesized that psychosocial stress, such as perceived stress overload, may influence epigenetic marks, specifically DNA methylation (DNAm), that contribute to increased risk for cardiovascular disease in African American women. Methods: We conducted an epigenome-wide study evaluating the relationship of psychosocial stress and DNAm among African American mothers from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure (InterGEN) cohort. Linear mixed effects models were used to explore the epigenome-wide associations with the Stress Overload Scale (SOS), which examines self-reported past-week stress, event load and personal vulnerability. Results: In total, n = 228 participants were included in our analysis. After adjusting for known epigenetic confounders, we did not identify any DNAm sites associated with maternal report of stress measured by SOS after controlling for multiple comparisons. Several of the top differentially methylated CpG sites related to SOS score (P < 1 × 10-5), mapped to genes of unknown significance for hypertension or heart disease, namely, PXDNL and C22orf42. Conclusions: This study provides foundational knowledge for future studies examining epigenetic associations with stress and other psychosocial measures in African Americans, a key area for growth in epigenetics. Future studies including larger sample sizes and replication data are warranted.

Prevalence, risk factors, and cardiovascular disease outcomes associated with persistent blood pressure control: The Jackson Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining blood pressure (BP) control over time may contribute to lower risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals who are taking antihypertensive medication. METHODS: The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) enrolled 5,306 African-American adults ≥21 years of age and was used to determine the proportion of African Americans that maintain persistent BP control, identify factors associated with persistent BP control, and determine the association of persistent BP control with CVD events. This analysis included 1,604 participants who were taking antihypertensive medication at Visit 1 and had BP data at Visits 1 (2000-2004), 2 (2005-2008), and 3 (2009-2013). Persistent BP control was defined as systolic BP <140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg at all three visits. CVD events were assessed from Visit 3 through December 31, 2016. Hazard ratios (HR) for the association of persistent BP control with CVD outcomes were adjusted for age, sex, systolic BP, smoking, diabetes, and total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at Visit 3. RESULTS: At Visit 1, 1,226 of 1,604 participants (76.4%) with hypertension had controlled BP. Overall, 48.9% of participants taking antihypertensive medication at Visit 1 had persistent BP control. After multivariable adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, and access-to-care, participants were more likely to have persistent BP control if they were <65 years of age, women, had family income ≥$25,000 at each visit, and visited a health professional in the year prior to each visit. The multivariable adjusted HR (95% confidence interval) comparing participants with versus without persistent BP control was 0.71 (0.46-1.10) for CVD, 0.68 (0.34-1.34) for coronary heart disease, 0.65 (0.27-1.52) for stroke, and 0.55 (0.33-0.90) for heart failure. CONCLUSION: Less than half of JHS participants taking antihypertensive medication had persistent BP control, putting them at increased risk for heart failure.

An Open Trial of Telephone-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy for Reducing Depressive Symptoms.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a promising intervention for reducing depressive symptoms in individuals with comorbid chronic disease, but the program's attendance demands make it inaccessible to many who might benefit. We tested the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of an abbreviated, telephone-delivered adaptation of the in-person mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-T) program in a sample of patients with depressive symptoms and hypertension. Participants (n = 14; 78.6% female, mean age = 60.6) with mild to moderate depressive symptoms and hypertension participated in the 8-week MBCT-T program. Feasibility was indexed via session attendance and home-based practice completion. Acceptability was indexed via self-reported satisfaction scores. Safety was assessed via reports of symptomatic decline or need for additional mental health treatment. Depressive symptoms (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report [QIDS-SR]) and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale; HADS-A) were assessed at baseline and immediately following the intervention. Sixty-four percent of participants (n = 9) attended ≥4 intervention sessions. Seventy-one percent (n = 6) of participants reported completing all assigned formal home practice and 89.2% (n = 8) reported completing all assigned informal practice. Participants were either very satisfied (75%; n = 6) or mostly satisfied (25%; n = 2) with the intervention. There were no adverse events or additional need for mental health treatment. Depressive symptom scores were 4.09 points lower postintervention (p = .004). Anxiety scores were 3.18 points lower postintervention (p = .039). Results support the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of an abbreviated, telephone-delivered version of MBCT for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in individuals with co-occurring chronic disease.

Acculturation, Discrimination and 24-h Activity in Asian American Immigrant Women.

Asian American immigrant (AAI) women may have suboptimal 24-h activity patterns due to traditional gender role and caregiving responsibilities. However, little is known about their objectively-measured activity. We measured AAI women's 24-h activity patterns using accelerometry and examined cultural correlates of time in sedentary behavior (SB), light intensity physical activity (LIPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sleep. Seventy-five AAI women completed surveys on acculturation (years of U.S. residency and English proficiency), discrimination, and sleep quality, and 7 days of wrist- and hip-accelerometer monitoring. Linear regression was conducted controlling for age, BMI, and education. We also compared activity patterns across Asian subgroups (East, Southeast, South Asians). On average, AAI women had 33 min of MVPA, 6.1 h of LIPA, 10 h of SB, and 5.3 h of sleep per day. South Asian women had the longest SB and the shortest sleep and MVPA hours. English proficiency was negatively related to MVPA (p = 0.03) and LIPA (p < 0.01). Years of U.S. residency was positively related to SB (p = 0.07). Discrimination was related to shorter (p = 0.03) and poorer quality sleep (p = 0.06). Culturally-tailored programs targeting SB and sleep and integrating coping strategies against discrimination could help optimize AAI women's 24-h activity patterns.

Depression and suicidality among Hispanics with epilepsy: Findings from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network integrated database.

OBJECTIVE: Although psychiatric disorders are more common among people with epilepsy,2 depression and suicidal ideation among Hispanics with epilepsy remain understudied. We examined the prevalence and correlates of depression and suicidal ideation among Hispanic adults with epilepsy who participated in self-management studies in the Managing Epilepsy Well3 Network. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from ten studies used the Patient Health Questionnaire-94 or Neurological Disease Depression Inventory-Epilepsy5 to examine the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ ≥ 10, NDDI-E ≥ 15) and suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9 ≥ 1, NDDI-E item 4 ≥ 2). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models examined associations between ethnicity, elevated depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among PWE. Secondary analyses examined correlates of elevated depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among Hispanic PWE. RESULTS: Of 559 participants, 49.6% (n = 277) were Hispanic. Elevated depressive symptoms were endorsed by 38.1% (n = 213) of all participants (32.5% of Hispanics); suicidal ideation was endorsed by 18.4% (n = 103) of all participants (16.3% of Hispanics). After adjustment for sociodemographic and health attributes, Hispanic PWE had a 44% lower prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (OR = 0.56, CI 0.37-0.84, p = 0.0056) compared to non-Hispanics but similar rates of suicidal ideation (OR = 0.84, CI 0.45-1.58, p = 0.59). Acculturation measures were available for 256 (92.4%) of Hispanic PWE: language preference was Spanish for 62.9%, 46.1% were foreign-born. Spanish-speaking Hispanics were less likely than English-speaking Hispanics to report elevated depressive symptoms (OR = 0.43, CI 0.19-0.97, p = 0.041); however, Hispanics who reported fair or poor health status had a four-fold higher depression prevalence compared to those who reported excellent or very good health status [reference group] (OR = 4.44, CI 1.50-13.18, p = 0.0071). Of the Hispanics who provided prior 30-day seizure data, ≥1 monthly seizure was independently associated with higher depression prevalence (OR = 3.11, CI 1.29-7.45, p = 0.01). Being foreign-born was not associated with elevated depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: In a large, geographically diverse sample of PWE, elevated depressive symptoms were significantly lower in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics. Spanish language preference was associated with a lower prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms among Hispanic PWE. Future studies should include acculturation data to better screen for depression and suicidal ideation risk and optimize interventions for Hispanic PWE.

Chronic stress primes innate immune responses in mice and humans.

Psychological stress (PS) is associated with systemic inflammation and accelerates inflammatory disease progression (e.g., atherosclerosis). The mechanisms underlying stress-mediated inflammation and future health risk are poorly understood. Monocytes are key in sustaining systemic inflammation, and recent studies demonstrate that they maintain the memory of inflammatory insults, leading to a heightened inflammatory response upon rechallenge. We show that PS induces remodeling of the chromatin landscape and transcriptomic reprogramming of monocytes, skewing them to a primed hyperinflammatory phenotype. Monocytes from stressed mice and humans exhibit a characteristic inflammatory transcriptomic signature and are hyperresponsive upon stimulation with Toll-like receptor ligands. RNA and ATAC sequencing reveal that monocytes from stressed mice and humans exhibit activation of metabolic pathways (mTOR and PI3K) and reduced chromatin accessibility at mitochondrial respiration-associated loci. Collectively, our findings suggest that PS primes the reprogramming of myeloid cells to a hyperresponsive inflammatory state, which may explain how PS confers inflammatory disease risk.

Stress interventions and hypertension in Black women.

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Black women have high rates of hypertension compared to women of other racial or ethnic groups and are disproportionately affected by psychosocial stressors such as racial discrimination, gender discrimination, and caregiving stress. Evidence suggests that stress is associated with incident hypertension and hypertension risk. Stress management is associated with improvements improved blood pressure outcomes. The purpose of this review is to synthesize evidence on effects of stress management interventions on blood pressure in Black women. A comprehensive search of scientific databases was conducted. Inclusion criteria included studies that were: (1) primary research that tested an intervention; (2) in the English language; (3) included African-American women; (4) incorporated stress in the intervention; (5) included blood pressure as an outcome; and (6) were US based. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria. Ten (56%) studies tested meditation-based interventions, two (11%) tested coping and affirmation interventions, and six (33%) tested lifestyle modification interventions that included stress management content. Thirteen of the studies were randomized controlled trials. Reductions in blood pressure were observed in all of the meditation-based interventions, although the magnitude and statistical significance varied. Comprehensive lifestyle interventions were also efficacious for reducing blood pressure, although the relative contribution of stress management versus behavior modification could not be evaluated. Coping and affirmation interventions did not affect blood pressure. Most of the reviewed studies included small numbers of Black women and did not stratify results by race and gender, so effects remain unclear. This review highlights the urgent need for studies specifically focusing on Black women. Given the extensive disparities in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, whether stress management can lower blood pressure and improve primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention among Black women is an important question for future research.

Stress and Depression Are Associated With Life's Simple 7 Among African Americans With Hypertension: Findings From the Jackson Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association created the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) metrics to promote cardiovascular health (CVH) by achieving optimal levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, physical activity, diet, weight, and smoking status. The degree to which psychosocial factors such as stress and depression impact one's ability to achieve optimal CVH is unclear, particularly among hypertensive African Americans. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses included 1,819 African Americans with hypertension participating in the Jackson Heart Study (2000-2004). Outcomes were LS7 composite and individual component scores (defined as poor, intermediate, ideal). High perceived chronic stress was defined as the top quartile of Weekly Stress Inventory scores. High depressive symptoms were defined as Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale scores of ≥16. We compared 4 groups: high stress alone; high depressive symptoms alone; high stress and high depressive symptoms; low stress and low depressive symptoms (reference) using linear regression for total LS7 scores and logistic regression for LS7 components. RESULTS: Participants with both high stress and depressive symptoms had lower composite LS7 scores (B [95% confidence interval] = -0.34 [-0.65 to -0.02]) than those with low stress and depressive symptoms in unadjusted and age/sex-adjusted models. They also had poorer health status for smoking (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.52 [0.35-0.78]) and physical activity (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.71 [0.52-0.95]) after full covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of high stress and high depressive symptoms was associated with poorer LS7 metrics in hypertensive African Americans. Psychosocial interventions may increase the likelihood of engaging in behaviors that promote optimal CVH.

Telephone-based depression self-management in Hispanic adults with epilepsy: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Depression is associated with adverse outcomes in epilepsy but is undertreated in this population. Project UPLIFT, a telephone-based depression self-management program, was developed for adults with epilepsy and has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in English-speaking patients. There remains an unmet need for accessible mental health programs for Hispanic adults with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effects on depressive symptoms of a culturally adapted version of UPLIFT for the Hispanic community. Hispanic patients with elevated depressive symptoms (n = 72) were enrolled from epilepsy clinics in New York City and randomized to UPLIFT or usual care. UPLIFT was delivered in English or Spanish to small groups in eight weekly telephone sessions. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment, retention, and adherence rates and acceptability was assessed by self-reported satisfaction with the intervention. Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores) were compared between study arms over 12 months. The mean age was 43.3±11.3, 71% of participants were female and 67% were primary Spanish speakers. Recruitment (76% consent rate) and retention rates (86-93%) were high. UPLIFT participants completed a median of six out of eight sessions and satisfaction ratings were high, but rates of long-term practice were low. Rates of clinically significant depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥5) were lower in UPLIFT versus usual care throughout follow-up (63% vs. 72%, 8 weeks; 40% vs. 70%, 6 months; 47% vs. 70%, 12 months). Multivariable-adjusted regressions demonstrated statistically significant differences at 6 months (OR = 0.24, 95% CI, 0.06-0.93), which were slightly reduced at 12 months (OR = 0.30, 95% CI, 0.08-1.16). Results suggest that UPLIFT is feasible and acceptable among Hispanic adults with epilepsy and demonstrate promising effects on depressive symptoms. Larger trials in geographically diverse samples are warranted.

Maintaining Normal Blood Pressure Across the Life Course: The JHS.

[Figure: see text].

Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network: Summary of Findings and Network Outcomes.

The Go Red for Women movement was initiated by the American Heart Association (AHA) in the early 2000s to raise awareness concerning cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women. In 2016, the AHA funded 5 research centers across the United States to advance our knowledge of the risks and presentation of CVD that are specific to women. This report highlights the findings of the centers, showing how insufficient sleep, sedentariness, and pregnancy-related complications may increase CVD risk in women, as well as presentation and factors associated with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in women. These projects were augmented by collaborative ancillary studies assessing the relationships between various lifestyle behaviors, including nightly fasting duration, mindfulness, and behavioral and anthropometric risk factors and CVD risk, as well as metabolomic profiling of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in women. The Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network enhanced the evidence base related to heart disease in women, promoting awareness of the female-specific factors that influence CVD.

The Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) network database: Lessons learned in refining and implementing an integrated data tool in service of a national U.S. Research Collaborative.

Epilepsy self-management (ESM) is the summative set of behaviors that people with epilepsy use to cope with seizures and optimize health. This report describes the implementation and evolution of the Managing Epilepsy Well Network Database (MEW DB), an integrated data resource intended to advance knowledge on ESM. The MEW DB utilizes a three-tiered (Tier 1-3) system of data organization, with tiers of data generally increasing in ascending complexity or collection burden. A MEW DB Steering Committee (SC) establishes consensus on planned analyses using a standardized new analysis request template. The data management structure facilitates harmonization and integration of additional data, or to update the database as new data become available. The current MEW DB comprises 1,563 people with epilepsy. Mean age was 39.9 years, 64.9% women (N = 1006), 12.8% African American (N = 170), 22.2% Hispanic (N = 306). On average, individuals have lived with epilepsy since their early 20s and are prescribed between 1 and 2 antiepileptic drugs. The MEW DB spans multiple socio-ecological levels to provide a robust multi-tiered framework for studying ESM. A total of 41 common data elements have been identified through iterative consensus. This integrated database takes advantage of an extensive collective background of archival evidence in ESM and brings together engaged investigators to build a dataset that represents diverse types of individuals with epilepsy, targets health domains important to ESM, and facilitates analyses that would not be possible with sites operating independently. Overall, the MEW DB serves the greater mission of this research collaborative and has potential to advance ESM research.