Left ventricular hypertrophy among dark- and light-skinned Puerto Rican men: the Puerto Rico Heart Health Program

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and outcomes can vary across racial groups.
• Understanding disparities in cardiovascular health is crucial for targeted interventions.
• The Puerto Rico Heart Health Program investigates CHD in urban Puerto Rican men.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between skin color and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in urban Puerto Rican men.
• To assess the impact of skin color on mortality risk in the context of LVH.

Main Methods:

• Assessed skin color in 3366 urban men participating in the Puerto Rico Heart Health Program.
• Conducted comprehensive cardiovascular examinations including blood pressure, weight, physical activity, smoking, and ECG for LVH.
• Followed participants for mortality over 6 years.

Main Results:

• Darker-skinned men exhibited a higher prevalence of definite and possible LVH-ECG, even after adjusting for hypertension, weight, activity, and smoking.
• Multivariate analysis revealed approximately double the prevalence of LVH-ECG in darker-skinned men.
• Definite LVH-ECG was associated with significantly increased 6-year mortality risk, particularly in darker-skinned men (sevenfold increase).

Conclusions:

• Skin color is independently associated with LVH-ECG prevalence in Puerto Rican men.
• Darker skin pigmentation may be a marker for increased cardiovascular risk, including LVH and mortality.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the biological and social mechanisms underlying these observed disparities.