Experiences of Adults Managing Cardiovascular Health While in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): A Qualitative Study

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular (CV)-related deaths than the general population. These deaths may result from modifiable CV health behaviors. This qualitative study investigates barriers and facilitators to engaging in the CV health-promoting behaviors of quitting tobacco, taking prescribed medications, getting healthy sleep, being more active, and eating better.

In this manuscript, we share general inductive qualitative findings from interviews with 13 individuals aged 44-64, including 3 females, and 10 males, 4 participants identified as White, and 9 as Black or African American, focused on their experiences with CV diagnoses and CV health behaviors while living in a permanent supportive housing facility (PSH) in Minneapolis, MN, in 2024.

When asked about the barriers and facilitators to the five CV health-promoting behaviors, participants frequently discussed CV health-related topics in categories of alcohol and tobacco use, housing, healthcare experiences, access to food, mobility, transportation, sleep, and social support.

Participants described significant barriers to engaging in CV health-promoting behaviors.