Ideal cardiovascular health and peripheral artery disease in African Americans: Results from the Jackson Heart Study

Tracie C. Collins, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Medicine, Wichita, KS, United States.
David P. Slovut, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States.
Robert Newton, Population and Public Health, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
William D. Johnson, Department of Biostatistics, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
Sandra Larrivee, Department of Biostatistics, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
Jeremy Patterson, Department of Human Performance Studies, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, United States.
Judy A. Johnston, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Medicine, Wichita, KS, United States.
Adolfo Correa

Abstract

We sought to determine the association of Life's Simple Seven (LSS) with peripheral artery disease (PAD) in African Americans. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data (2000-2004) from subjects participating in the Jackson Heart Study. African American men and women (N = 4403) age 35-84 years participated in the study. PAD was defined by an ankle-brachial index (ABI) of < 0.9. We assessed frequency of LSS (body mass index [BMI], blood pressure, total cholesterol, glucose, dietary habits, physical activity, and smoking) among participants with and without PAD. LSS variables were categorized as ideal, intermediate, or poor to indicate a participant's health status. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to assess the association of PAD with LSS. PAD was diagnosed in 113 participants (2.6%). The percentage of the cohort meeting criteria for ideal health for each of the seven LSS factors was: 14.2% for BMI, 17.1% for blood pressure, 38.0% for total cholesterol, 72.9% for glucose, 1.0% for dietary habits, 19.2% for physical activity, and 84.6% for smoking. Having ≥ 3 LSS variables within the category of poor health was associated with elevated odds for PAD (odds ratio (OR) 1.34, 95% CI 1.11-1.63) after adjusting for age. Among African American adults, LSS variables are associated with PAD. Further studies are needed to determine the association of LSS with PAD among other racial/ethnic groups.