Multiethnic community cardio-metabolic risk factor screening in Northeast Florida: The VIDASANA Project

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Cardiometabolic risk disproportionately impacts diverse US populations.
• Limited community-based research exists on metabolic syndrome (MS), functional capacity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk across multiple racial/ethnic groups.
• Northeast Florida serves as a region with diverse communities for this study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate MS prevalence, functional capacity, and 10-year CVD risk in adults from diverse communities in Northeast Florida.
• To identify disparities in cardiometabolic health across racial and ethnic groups.
• To inform culturally sensitive public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• A community-based, cross-sectional study screened 345 adults (2017-2019).
• Metabolic syndrome (MS) defined by Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.
• Functional capacity assessed by Duke Activity Status Index (DASI); 10-year CVD risk by Framingham Risk Score (FRS).
• Multivariable logistic regression identified MS predictors.

Main Results:

• MS prevalence was highest in Hispanic (47%), followed by non-Hispanic Black (35%) and Southeast Asian (33%) participants.
• Adjusted odds of MS were significantly higher in Hispanic and Southeast Asian individuals compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
• Lower functional capacity (DASI) and higher CVD risk (FRS) were observed in minority populations, with MS exacerbating functional decline.
• Non-Hispanic Black individuals exhibited the highest median 10-year CVD risk.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in MS prevalence, functional capacity, and CVD risk exist across racial/ethnic groups in Northeast Florida.
• Minoritized populations bear a disproportionately higher burden of cardiometabolic risk.
• Culturally informed prevention strategies are crucial for addressing these health inequities.