Relations of Life's Essential 8 score with arterial and microvascular function: The Jackson Heart Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Vascular Function
• Public Health

Background:

• The American Heart Association (AHA) Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metric assesses cardiovascular health.
• Correlation between LE8 scores and vascular function in African Americans remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the AHA's LE8 score and objective measures of vascular function.
• To examine cardiovascular health scoring in a diverse African American cohort.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 2186 Jackson Heart Study participants (mean age 57, 65% women).
• Calculated LE8 scores at baseline and conducted noninvasive vascular assessments (2012-2017).
• Employed linear regression models to analyze associations between LE8 scores and vascular parameters.

Main Results:

• Higher LE8 scores correlated with improved vascular function markers, including lower pulse wave velocity and central pulse pressure.
• Significant associations were observed between LE8 scores and characteristic impedance, forward pressure wave amplitude, and brachial artery flow velocities.
• Blood glucose and blood pressure were key LE8 components impacting vascular function.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the link between a healthy lifestyle, as indicated by LE8 scores, and enhanced vascular function.
• Further longitudinal research is recommended to confirm if improving LE8 scores can lead to better vascular health outcomes.