Cardiovascular Health at the Intersection of Race and Gender: Identifying Life-Course Processes to Reduce Health Disparities

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Cardiovascular health (CVH) is associated with reductions in age-related disease and later-life mortality. Black adults, particularly Black women, are less likely to achieve ideal CVH. Guided by intersectionality and life-course approaches, we examine to what degree (a) disparities in CVH exist at the intersection of race and gender and (b) CVH disparities would be reduced if marginalized groups had the same levels of resources and adversities as privileged groups. Methods We used biomarker subsamples from the Midlife in the United States Core and Refresher studies (N = 1,948). Causal decomposition analysis was implemented to test hypothetical interventions to equalize the distribution of early-life adversities (ELAs), perceived discrimination, or midlife socioeconomic status (SES) between marginalized and privileged groups. We conducted sensitivity analyses to determine to what degree unmeasured confounders would invalidate our findings. Results White women have the highest CVH score, followed by White men, Black men, and Black women. Intervening on ELAs would reduce the disparities: White men versus Black women (30% reduction) and White women versus Black women (15%). Intervening on perceived discrimination would not substantially change initial disparities. Intervening on midlife SES would yield large disparity reductions: White men versus Black men (64%), White men versus Black women (60%), and White women versus Black women (27%). These reductions are robust to unmeasured confounders. Discussion Providing economic security in adulthood for Blacks may help reduce racial disparities in CVH. Preventing exposure to ELAs among Black women may reduce their vulnerability to cardiovascular disease, compared to White adults.