Model Analysis of the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8: Can Physical Activity Mitigate Cardiovascular...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Health Disparities
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Life's Essential 8 framework links modifiable factors to cardiovascular risk.
• Low income is a significant social determinant of health.
• Understanding pathways from income to cardiovascular risk is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a multimediation model explaining the association between low income and cardiovascular risk.
• To identify specific health behaviors and biological factors mediating this relationship.
• To examine the role of systolic blood pressure as an indicator of cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021-2023) data from US adults (n=3345).
• Multimediation path analysis to test behavioral-to-biological pathways.
• Inclusion of health behaviors (physical activity, sleep, nutrition, smoking) and biological measures (BMI, cholesterol, glucose).

Main Results:

• Low income was associated with lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), poorer nutrition, and increased smoking.
• Indirect effects showed low income linked to higher fasting glucose, body mass index, and systolic blood pressure.
• Low MVPA was significantly associated with elevated systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and body mass index.

Conclusions:

• Low income is associated with unhealthy behaviors and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including elevated systolic blood pressure.
• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) emerged as a key behavioral factor.
• Interventions promoting MVPA could potentially mitigate income-related cardiovascular risk, especially in low-income communities.