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Early-Life Sociodemographic Factors and Cardiovascular Health in Preadolescence Among Low-Income and Racially and
Subin Jang1,2, Lenora Goodman1, Nancy E Sherwood1
1Division of Epidemiology and Community Health University of Minnesota School of Public Health Minneapolis MN USA.
Insights
Early childhood socioeconomic factors significantly impact preadolescent cardiovascular health (CVH). Disadvantaged backgrounds were linked to lower CVH, indicating a need for improved public health interventions for long-term child health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiovascular health
- Social determinants of health
- Early childhood development
Background:
- Investigated the link between early childhood sociodemographic factors and preadolescent cardiovascular health (CVH).
- Focused on a cohort of children from low-income, racially, and ethnically diverse households.
- Utilized the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 metrics, excluding sleep.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between early childhood sociodemographic factors and preadolescent cardiovascular health.
- To identify specific social determinants of health influencing long-term cardiovascular well-being in children.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of current public health strategies in mitigating early-life disadvantages.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of the NET-Works and NET-Works 2 studies.
- Included 268 children, followed from 2-4 years old to preadolescence (7-11 years).
- Modified Poisson regression models assessed the relationship between baseline sociodemographic factors and preadolescent CVH scores.
Main Results:
- Higher household income ($35k-$64.9k vs. <$15k), parental education (bachelor's degree+), and specific social security enrollments were associated with high CVH.
- Non-Hispanic White ethnicity was also linked to higher preadolescent CVH.
- Key CVH components included lower BMI percentile, lower cholesterol, higher physical activity, and better diet quality.
Conclusions:
- Early-life socioeconomic disadvantages negatively affect preadolescent cardiovascular health in diverse, low-income populations.
- Current public health prevention efforts are insufficient to overcome long-term cardiovascular health disparities.
- Interventions addressing social disadvantage in early childhood are crucial for improving long-term CVH.
Background:
This study examined the relationship between early childhood sociodemographic factors, a subset of social determinants of health, and preadolescent cardiovascular health (CVH) among a cohort of children from low-income and racially and ethnically diverse households using the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 (except sleep).
Methods:
This secondary data analysis used data from the NET-Works (Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids) randomized controlled trial and NET-Works 2 at the U follow-up study. Children (n=268) were 2 to 4 years at enrollment and followed through preadolescence (7-11 years). Sociodemographic factors at baseline were exposures. The main outcome was the CVH score (high (≥80) versus lower (<80)), calculated using Life's Essential 8 factors measured at preadolescence. Modified Poisson regression models estimated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs for the association between sociodemographic factors and CVH.
Results:
In early childhood, living in households with an annual income of $35 000 to $64 999 (relative to <$15 000) (RR, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.3-3.0]), a parent with at least a bachelor's degree (RR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.3-3.3]), enrollment in social security, disability, or unemployment (RR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.0-2.4]), and Non-Hispanic White (RR, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.5-3.3]) were associated with high CVH in preadolescence. Among Life's Essential 8 factors, lower body mass index percentile and cholesterol, and higher physical activity levels and diet quality were most strongly associated with high CVH scores.
Conclusions:
Early-life disadvantaged sociodemographic factors were negatively associated with preadolescent CVH among children from low-income and racially and ethnically diverse households. Current public health prevention efforts to alleviate social disadvantage in early childhood are insufficient for long-term CVH.
Registration:
URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01606891.
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