The Feasibility of Collecting Longitudinal Cardiovascular and Fitness Outcomes From a Neighborhood Park-Based Fitness Program in Ethnically Diverse Older Adults: A Proof-of-Concept Study

This proof-of-concept study examined feasibility of assessing longitudinal changes in body mass index, strength, mobility, and cardiovascular health outcomes in older, racial/ethnic minority adults participating in a park-based physical activity program. Study feasibility was based on follow-through data collection procedures and ability to manage and implement data collection, enrollment, and repeated measures data collection in older adults (≥50 years; n = 380; 45% Hispanic, 41% non-Hispanic Black) over a 28-month period. Mixed models were developed to estimate the effects of program participation over time on participant cardiovascular and fitness outcomes and across poverty and age subgroups. Model estimates adjusted for individual-level sociodemographics showed improvements across each 4 month time point in arm strength (0.55 arm curl; 95% confidence interval [0.33, 0.77]) and systolic (−0.68 mmHg; 95% confidence interval [−1.22, −0.13]) and diastolic (−0.47 mmHg; 95% confidence interval [−0.79, −0.16]) blood pressure. An Age × Poverty interaction found greater improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among younger participants living in low poverty (vs. older in higher poverty). Study of the longitudinal association between fitness class participation and health outcomes was feasible in park-based settings.

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Heterogeneous Exposure Associations in Observational Cohort Studies: The Example of Blood Pressure in Older Adults

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwz218 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 189 (1) ◽

pp. 55-67

Author(s):

Michelle C Odden ◽

Andreea M Rawlings ◽

Abtin Khodadadi ◽

Xiaoli Fern ◽

Michael G Shlipak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Creatinine Concentration ◽

Body Composition Study ◽

Health Aging

Abstract Heterogeneous exposure associations (HEAs) can be defined as differences in the association of an exposure with an outcome among subgroups that differ by a set of characteristics. In this article, we intend to foster discussion of HEAs in the epidemiologic literature and present a variant of the random forest algorithm that can be used to identify HEAs. We demonstrate the use of this algorithm in the setting of the association between systolic blood pressure and death in older adults. The training set included pooled data from the baseline examination of the Cardiovascular Health Study (1989–1993), the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (1997–1998), and the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (1998–1999). The test set included data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2002). The hazard ratios ranged from 1.25 (95% confidence interval: 1.13, 1.37) per 10-mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure among men aged ≤67 years with diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg to 1.00 (95% confidence interval: 0.96, 1.03) among women with creatinine concentration ≤0.7 mg/dL and a history of hypertension. HEAs have the potential to improve our understanding of disease mechanisms in diverse populations and guide the design of randomized controlled trials to control exposures in heterogeneous populations.

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Childlessness, Individual Socioeconomic Resources, and Health: Exploring Variation in 20 Countries

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1664 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 515-516

Author(s):

Nekehia Quashie ◽

Christine Mair ◽

Radoslaw Antczak ◽

Bruno Arpino

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Data Repository ◽

Middle Income ◽

Individual Level ◽

Socioeconomic Resources ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Using Data ◽

The Impact

Abstract Childless older adults may be at risk for poorer health cross-nationally, yet most studies on this topic analyze only a small number of countries and only 1 or 2 health outcomes. To our knowledge, two papers exist that explore associations between childlessness and multiple indicators of health using data from a large number of regionally diverse countries (e.g., 20 countries from North America, Asia, and Europe), but neither study includes an examination of socioeconomic resources. The level of health risk faced by childless older adults is likely to be distinctly shaped by older adults’ socioeconomic resources (e.g., education, income, wealth). Associations between childlessness, socioeconomic resources, and health may also differ by country context. Using harmonized, cross-national data for adults aged 50 and older across 20 high- and middle-income countries (United States (HRS), European Union (SHARE), Mexico (MHAS), and China (CHARLS) from the Gateway to Global Aging data repository), we explore if and how individual-level socioeconomic resources (income, education, wealth) moderate associations between childlessness and five health indicators (self-rated health, ADL limitations, IADL limitations, chronic conditions, and depression). Results suggest that associations between childlessness and health outcomes vary by individual socioeconomic resources in some country contexts, but not in others. We discuss these findings in light of the impact of individual-level socioeconomic resources on older adults’ support options and health outcomes cross-nationally.

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Abstract TP164: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measures and Risk of Covert Brain Infarction and Worsening White Matter in Older Adults

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.tp164 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Lester Y Leung ◽

Traci M Bartz ◽

Kenneth Rice ◽

James Floyd ◽

Bruce Psaty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Heart Rate ◽

White Matter ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Brain Infarction ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Mri Findings ◽

Increased Risk

Introduction: Covert brain infarction (CBI) and worsening white matter grade (WMG) on serial MRI are associated with increased risk for ischemic stroke and dementia. Hypothesis: We sought to evaluate the association of various measures of blood pressure and heart rate with these MRI findings. Methods: In the Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal cohort study of cardiovascular disease in older adults, we used relative risk regression to assess the risk of incident CBI and worsening WMG associated with mean, variability, and trend in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) measured at four or more annual clinic visits between two brain MRIs. We included participants who underwent both brain MRIs and had no change in antihypertensive medication status, no CBI on the initial MRI, and no stroke before the follow-up MRI. Results: Among 897 eligible participants, incident CBI occurred in 15% and worsening WMG in 27%. Mean SBP mean was strongly associated with increased risk for incident CBI (RR per 10 mmHg 1.29; 95% CI, 1.13-1.47), and DBP mean was strongly associated with increased risk for worsening WMG (RR per 10 mmHg 1.43; 95% CI, 1.23-1.67). DBP variability may be associated with incident CBI (RR per 10 mmHg 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.65), The HR measures were not associated with these MRI findings. Conclusions: Elevated mean levels of blood pressure contribute to covert cerebrovascular diseases. Control of mean blood pressure levels, even in older adults, remains a high priority for prevention of vascular brain injury.

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Abstract 22: Visit-to-Visit Variability in Blood Pressure is Related to Late-Life Cognitive Decline

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.131.suppl_1.22 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Bo Qin ◽

Anthony J Viera ◽

Linda S Adair ◽

Brenda L Plassman ◽

Lloyd J Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cognitive Testing ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Nutrition Survey

Introduction: Recent studies suggest higher visit-to-visit variability of blood pressure (BP) is associated with worse cognitive function, but evidence based on longitudinal cognitive testing has not been reported. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that higher visit-to-visit variability in BP, but not mean BP, would be associated with faster decline in cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised 1213 adults who had two or more waves of BP measurements as part of the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991, up to their first cognitive tests, and completed a cognitive screening test at two or more waves in 1997, 2000 or 2004. Mean (SD) age at first cognitive test was 64 (6) y. Outcomes were repeated measures of global cognitive scores (baseline mean ± SD: 19 ± 6 points), standardized composite cognitive and verbal memory scores (standardized units [SU]). Visit-to visit BP variability was expressed as the standard deviation [SD] or as the variation independent of mean (SD/mean^x, with x derived from curve fitting) in BP measures obtained at a mean interval of 3.6 years. Multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects models were used to determine the association of changes in cognitive scores with visit-to visit BP variability. Results: Higher visit-to-visit variability in systolic BP, but not mean systolic BP, was associated with a faster decline of cognitive function (adjusted mean difference [95% CI] for high vs. low tertile of SD in variability (Figure): global score -0.23 points/y [-0.41 to -0.04], composite scores -0.029 SU/y [-0.056 to -0.002] and verbal memory -0.044 SU/y [-0.075 to -0.012]). Higher visit-to-visit variability in diastolic BP was associated with a faster decline of global cognitive function only among adults 55-64 years, independent of mean diastolic BP. Conclusion: Higher long-term BP visit-to-visit variability predicted a faster rate of cognitive decline among older adults.

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How Families Make Their Way Into Your Heart: Exploring the Associations Between Daily Experiences Involving Family Members and Cardiovascular Health

Annals of Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/abm/kaab095 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hye Won Chai ◽

David M Almeida

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Family Members ◽

The United States ◽

Cardiovascular Outcomes ◽

National Study ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Negative Experiences ◽

Daily Experiences

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is a critical public health issue and a growing body of literature on relationships and health point to individuals’ interactions and involvement with family members as significant correlates of cardiovascular outcomes. However, less is known about the implications of daily encounters with family members on cardiovascular health outcomes and how the associations vary across adulthood. Purpose The aims of this study were to examine the associations of positive and negative daily experiences with family members with comprehensive measures of cardiovascular health and to further explore how age moderates these associations. Methods This study used data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) II and MIDUS Refresher. The sample was composed of respondents who participated in two subprojects of MIDUS, namely the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE) and Biomarker Project (N = 1,312). Indices of cardiovascular health included inflammatory markers, autonomic functioning, and Life’s Simple 7 scores. Results Results showed that the associations between daily family experiences and cardiovascular outcomes differed by age. Having more daily negative experiences with family members was associated with better cardiovascular health outcomes among young adults and worse cardiovascular outcomes among older adults. Having more daily positive experiences was also associated with lower heart rate variability for older adults. Conclusions Results revealed that contrary to the general assumption that negative experiences have health-damaging effects, frequent involvement with family members in daily life, even negative ones, may be indicative of active engagement in life that could be health promoting for younger adults.

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Design and rationale for a pragmatic cluster randomized trial of the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) for social housing residents in Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-019-3806-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gina Agarwal ◽

Magali Girard ◽

Ricardo Angeles ◽

Melissa Pirrie ◽

Marie-Thérèse Lussier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Housing ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Primary Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Awareness Program ◽

Ed Visits ◽

Cluster Randomized

Abstract Background The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) uses volunteers to provide cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes screening in a community setting, referrals to primary care providers, and locally available programs targeting lifestyle modification. CHAP has been adapted to target older adults residing in social housing, a vulnerable segment of the population. Older adults living in social housing report poorer health status and have a higher burden of a multitude of chronic illnesses, such as CVD and diabetes. The study objective is to evaluate whether there is a reduction in unplanned CVD-related Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions among residents of social seniors’ housing buildings receiving the CHAP program for 1 year compared to residents in matched buildings not receiving the program. Methods/design This is a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial in community-based social (subsidized) housing buildings in Ontario and Quebec. All residents of 14 matched pairs (intervention/control) of apartment buildings will be included. Buildings with 50–200 apartment units with the majority of residents aged 55+ and a unique postal code are included. All individuals residing within the buildings at the start of the intervention period are included (intention to treat, open cohort). The intervention instrument consists of CHAP screens for high blood pressure using automated blood pressure monitors and for diabetes using the Canadian Diabetes Risk (CANRISK) assessment tool. Monthly drop-in sessions for screening/monitoring are held within a common area of the building. Group health education sessions are also held monthly. Reports are sent to family doctors, and attendees are encouraged to visit their family doctor. The primary outcome measure is monthly CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations over a 1-year period post randomization. Secondary outcomes are all ED visits, hospitalizations, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and participant experience. Discussion It is anticipated that CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations will decrease in the intervention buildings. Using the volunteer-led CHAP program, there is significant opportunity to improve the health of older adults in social housing. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03549845. Registered on 15 May 2018. Updated on 21 May 2019.

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