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

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.