Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Young Adults With Established Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

There has been an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among young adults in the United States that has been attributed, in part, to a rise in overweight and obesity, use of combustible tobacco and unhealthy diet and exercise patterns. These factors are influenced further by socioeconomic status and other social determinants of health. In the My Research Legacy study, we examined ideal cardiovascular health in young adults aged 18– <50 years with cardiovascular disease using the Life's Simple 7 survey and data from digital health devices. Young adults with cardiovascular disease (n = 349) were older, had a lower socioeconomic status, a higher prevalence of risk factors, and lower Life's Simple 7 Health Scores (6.4 ± 1.5 vs. 7.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.01) compared to young adults without cardiovascular disease (n = 696). Analysis of digital health device data revealed that young adults with cardiovascular disease performed a similar number of weekly minutes of moderate and vigorous exercise as those without disease leading to similar ideal activity scores. Young adults with cardiovascular disease also shared similarities in modifiable risk factors with adults aged ≥50 years with cardiovascular disease (n = 217), including weight, dietary habits, and weekly minutes of exercise. Latent class analysis identified two phenogroups of young adults with cardiovascular disease: phenogroup 1 was characterized by more advantageous cardiovascular health factors and behaviors resulting in higher Life's Simple 7 Health Scores than phenogroup 2 (7.4 ± 1.2 vs. 5.5 ± 1.1, p < 0.01). These findings in young adults with cardiovascular disease may inform the design of behavioral and therapeutic interventions in the future to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence, Treatment, and Control in US Adults Aged 20 to 44 Years, 2009 to March 2020

“…there was a decrease in the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, potentially reflecting greater regulation on the use of transfatty acids and other partially hydrogenated oils. 27,28 Overall, our findings highlight the need to intensify public health and clinical interventions focused on primordial and primary prevention for young adults, 1,29 given evidence that cardiovascular disease mortality may now be rising in this population, as well as the potential adverse long-term public health impact of these trends in risk factors on lifetime rates of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. [17][18][19]30 We also observed significant variation in cardiovascular risk factors across racial and ethnic groups.…”

Phenolic Compounds from Cherries and Berries for Chronic Disease Management and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

“…CVD is the leading cause of death and morbidity in people with diabetes [ 18 ]. The incidence of CVD in young adults is increasing and has been linked to several variables, including obesity, overweight, tobacco use, and unhealthy diet, suggesting that the disease is not confined to a specific age group [ 19 ]. The impact of CVD is also observed in different geographical regions, as studies have reported different prevalence rates of CVD in different populations, including rural and urban settings [ 20 ].…”

Maternal-Child Cardiovascular Health

“…T he intersection of maternal and child cardiovascular health is a critical yet often underexplored frontier in the efforts to addressing cardiovascular disease (CVD). The rising prevalence of CVD in younger adults, with up to 40% of those younger than 50 years, and the alarming 27% rate of hypertension in children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 years 1,2 are increasingly concerning. This underscores the urgent need to reconsider the approach to CVD care and prevention.…”