Joint Associations Between Social and Psychological Health Risk and Life’s Essential 8 Among Women of Reproductive Age: Insights from the SAFE HEART Study
Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity among women of reproductive age. Social and psychological adversities may worsen cardiovascular health, but their joint effects on Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) risk factors are understudied.
Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of women aged 18–50 years recruited from community outreach and the American Heart Association’s Research Goes Red registry. A three-level risk variable (low, moderate, high) was created using a standardized polysocial risk score and psychological health indicators. The polysocial score reflected disadvantage across socioeconomic (education, employment, income, insurance, financial strain), living (housing, marital status, home ownership), food, transportation, utilities, and safety domains. Psychological health was assessed using validated measures of stress, depression, and anxiety. Women were classified as low-risk (lowest tertile, 0–1 psychological risks), moderate-risk (middle tertile and/or 2 risks), or high-risk (highest tertile and/or all 3 risks). Self-reported LE8 risk factors included hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, BMI, physical activity, sleep, smoking, and diet. Multivariable logistic regressions estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs), adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and LE8 metrics.
Results Among 430 women (mean age 30.0 ± 6.8 years), 12.1% were low-risk, 36.5% moderate-risk, and 51.4% high-risk. Compared to the low-risk group, high-risk women had greater odds of hypertension (aOR = 4.50; 95% CI: 2.06–9.81), poor sleep (aOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.02–3.76), and low fruit/vegetable intake (aOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.10–4.36). Moderate-risk women also had elevated odds of low fruit/vegetable intake (aOR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.02–4.21). BMI, cholesterol, and diabetes varied across groups. Smoking odds were higher in moderate-risk (aOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 0.67–4.01) and high-risk (aOR = 1.71; 95% CI: 0.71–4.15) groups. High-risk women were less likely to report low physical activity (aOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.25–1.16).
Conclusion A high burden of co-occurring social and psychological health risks were associated with adverse LE8 profiles among women of reproductive age. These findings underscore the need for coordinated screening and prevention strategies that address both social and psychological risk factors to mitigate immediate risks for adverse pregnancy and maternal health outcomes and reduce long-term cardiovascular disease risk across the life course.
Metlock, Faith
( Johns Hopkins University
, North Bethesda
, Maryland
, United States
)
Ouyang, Pamela
( JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
, Towson
, Maryland
, United States
)
Hladek, Melissa
( Johns Hopkins University
, Ellicott City
, Maryland
, United States
)
Sharma, Garima
( Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
, Falls Church
, Virginia
, United States
)
Commodore-mensah, Yvonne
( John Hopkins University School of N
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Ateh Stanislas, Ketum
( Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Rayani, Asma
( Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Baez Mateo, Ana
( John Hopkins University School of N
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Hernandez, Lilian
( Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Dankwa, Kwabena
( Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Odei-kumi, Kwabena
( Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Ezuma, Chioma
( Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Vaidya, Dhananjay
( JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
, Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
)
Author Disclosures:
Faith Metlock:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Pamela Ouyang:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Melissa Hladek:DO have relevant financial relationships
;
Consultant:Fresenius Medical Care:Past (completed)
| Garima Sharma:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Yvonne Commodore-Mensah:No Answer
| Ketum Ateh Stanislas:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Asma Rayani:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Ana Baez Mateo:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Lilian Hernandez:No Answer
| Kwabena Dankwa:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Kwabena Odei-Kumi:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Chioma Ezuma:No Answer
| Dhananjay Vaidya:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships