Background Higher cardiovascular health scores, using American Heart Association's (AHA) Life's Simple 7 (LS7), have been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and mortality among all racial/ethnic groups. Nationally, Black men have the lowest levels of LS7. Thus, a study was conducted to evaluate the impact of a community-based team lifestyle change program on LS7 among Black men. Methods Black adult males ( n = 74) from a large Midwestern city participated in Black Impact, a 24-week community-based team lifestyle change program adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program and AHA's Check, Change, Control Blood Pressure Self-Management Program, which incorporates AHA's LS7 framework. The change in a LS7 score (range 0–14) from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks was evaluated using a linear mixed-effects model adjusted for age, education, and income. Results The mean age of participants was 52 ± 10 years. The men were sociodemographically diverse, with annual income ranging from <$20,000 (7%) to ≥$75,000 (25%). Twenty-five percent were college graduates, 73% had private insurance, and 84% were employed. In fully adjusted models, LS7 score at baseline was 7.12 and increased 0.67 (95%CI: 0.14, 1.20, p = 0.013) and 0.93 (95%CI: 0.40, 1.46, p <0.001) points at 12 and 24 weeks, respectively, compared to baseline. Sensitivity analysis evaluating 5 components (excluding diet and physical activity) and 6 components (excluding diet) also showed significant increases at 12 and 24 weeks (all p <0.01). Conclusions The Black Impact lifestyle change single-arm pilot program showed that a community-based lifestyle intervention has the potential to improve LS7 in Black men. Further randomized studies are urgently needed to improve cardiovascular health and advance cardiovascular health equity in Black men.

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Background: Among African Americans (AAs), attaining higher levels of American Heart Association (AHA) ideal cardiovascular health (Life’s Simple 7 [LS7]) is associated with lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We previously showed that aldosterone is associated with higher risk of diabetes and CVD in AAs. Thus, we investigated the association of LS7 metrics with aldosterone in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS). Methods: Ideal metrics were defined by AHA 2020 goals for health behaviors (smoking, dietary intake, physical activity, and body mass index) and health factors (total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose). The number of ideal LS7 metrics attained at baseline were summed into a continuous score (0–7) and categorical groups (Poor: 0–1, Intermediate: 2–3, and Ideal: ≥4 ideal LS7 metrics). Multivariable linear regression was used. Results: Among 4,095 JHS participants (mean age 55 ± 13 years, 65% female), median serum aldosterone was 4.90, 4.30, and 3.70 ng/dL in the poor (n = 1132), intermediate (n = 2288) and ideal (n = 675) categories respectively. Aldosterone was 15% [0.85 (0.80, 0.90)] and 33% [0.67 (0.61, 0.75)] lower in the intermediate and ideal LS7 categories compared to the poor LS7 category. Each additional LS7 metric attained on continuous LS7 score (0–7) was associated with an 11% [0.89 (0.86, 0.91)] lower aldosterone level with variation by sex with women having a 15% lower aldosterone vs. 5% in men. Conclusions: Higher attainment of ideal LS7 metrics was associated with lower serum aldosterone among AAs with a greater magnitude of association among women compared to men.

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an important driver of BP but the association of the RAAS with ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and ABPM phenotypes among African Americans (AA) has not been assessed. Methods: ABP and ABPM phenotypes were assessed in 912 Jackson Heart Study participants with aldosterone and plasma renin activity (PRA). Multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the association of aldosterone, and PRA with clinic, awake and asleep systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and ABPM phenotypes, adjusting for important confounders. Results: The mean age of participants was 59 ±11 years and 69% were female. In fully adjusted models, lower log-PRA was associated with higher clinic, awake, and asleep SBP and DBP (all p<0.05). A higher log-aldosterone was associated with higher clinic, awake, and asleep DBP (all p<0.05). A 1-unit higher log-PRA was associated with lower odds of daytime hypertension (OR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.71), nocturnal hypertension (OR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.58, 0.79), daytime and nocturnal hypertension (OR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.71), sustained hypertension (OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.70) and masked hypertension (OR 0.75, 95%CI: 0.62, 0.90). A 1-unit higher log-aldosterone was associated with higher odds of nocturnal hypertension (OR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.81). Neither PRA nor aldosterone were associated with percent dipping, non-dipping BP pattern, or white-coat hypertension. Patterns for aldosterone:renin ratio were similar to PRA. Conclusions: Suppressed renin activity and higher aldosterone:renin ratios were associated with both higher SBP and DBP in the office and during the awake and asleep periods as evidenced by ABPM. Higher aldosterone levels were associated with higher DBP, but not SBP, in the clinic and during the awake and asleep periods. Further clinical investigation of novel and approved medications that target low renin physiology such as epithelial sodium channel inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may be paramount in improving hypertension control in AAs.

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