Sociodemographic Determinants of Life’s Simple 7: Implications for Achieving Cardiovascular Health and Health Equity Goals

Abstract

Background: Life’s Simple 7 (LS7; nutri­tion, physical activity, cigarette use, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose) predicts cardiovascular health. The principal objective of our study was to define demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with LS7 to better inform programs addressing cardiovascular health and health equity.Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2016 data were analyzed on non-Hispanic White [NHW], NH Black [NHB], and Hispanic adults aged ≥20 years without cardiovascular disease. Each LS7 variable was assigned 0, 1, or 2 points for poor, intermediate, and ideal lev­els, respectively. Composite LS7 scores were grouped as poor (0–4 points), intermediate (5–9), and ideal (10–14).Results: 32,803 adults were included. Mean composite LS7 scores were below ideal across race/ethnicity groups. After adjusting for confounders, NHBs were less likely to have optimal LS7 scores than NHW (multivariable odds ratios (OR .44; 95% CI .37–.53), whereas Hispanics tended to have better scores (1.18; .96–1.44). Hispan­ics had more ideal LS7 scores than NHBs, although Hispanics had lower incomes and less education, which were independently associated with fewer ideal LS7 scores. Adults aged ≥45 years were less likely to have ideal LS7 scores (.11; .09–.12) than adults aged <45 years.Conclusions: NHBs were the least likely to have optimal scores, despite higher incomes and more education than Hispanics, con­sistent with structural racism and Hispanic paradox. Programs to optimize lifestyle should begin in childhood to mitigate pre­cipitous age-related declines in LS7 scores, especially in at-risk groups. Promoting higher education and reducing poverty are also important. Ethn Dis. 2020;30(4):637- 650; doi:10.18865/ed.30.4.637