Prevalence and disparities of Ideal Cardiovascular Health: A nationally representative cross-sectional study in South Africa.
1
School of Health System and Public Health, Division of Health Measurement Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
2
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Global Health, Division of Health System and Public Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
3
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Medicine, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
4
HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
5
Faculty of Health Sciences, Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
6
Faculty of Health Sciences, SAMRC Extramural Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
7
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
8
College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The “Life’s Simple 7” (LS7) metrics were developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) to assess and promote cardiovascular health (CVH). The purpose of this study was to determine the overall CVH of the South African population using the LS7 score.
METHODS:
We examined the components of CHV in 5,614 participants aged ≥15 years from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES). Metrics of the LS7 score (smoking, physical activity (PA), diet, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting total cholesterol and blood glucose) were analysed to generate a final score ranging from 0 to 14. Each LS7 component was scored (0 = poor, 1 = intermediate, 2 = ideal), and total CVH scores were categorized as poor (0–7), intermediate (8–11), or ideal (12–14). Latent class analysis was used to identify distinct health profiles, and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ideal CVH outcome.
RESULTS:
The participants were predominantly female (65.3%), mostly African (68.3%), with a mean age of 40.2 years. The weighted prevalence of ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH was 25.5% (95% CI, 22.5%-28.5%), 66.9% (95% CI, 63.1%-70.6%), and 7.5% (95% CI, 4.6%-12.2%), respectively. Ideal CVH prevalence declined sharply with age: from 55.5% (15–24 years) to 4.4% (≥65 years). Africans had a higher ideal CVH (26.7%) than other racial groups. Two latent classes emerged: Class 1 (38.5%), characterized by poor BMI, BP, and glucose; Class 2 (61.5%) with ideal metrics except for low PA. Geographic location, age, race, and employment status were predictive of ideal CVH outcome.
CONCLUSIONS:
Interventions must address low PA, obesity, and BP and glucose control, particularly in women and older adults, as part of an overall strategy aimed at improving CVH outcomes in this population.
The “Life’s Simple 7” (LS7) metrics were developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) to assess and promote cardiovascular health (CVH). The purpose of this study was to determine the overall CVH of the South African population using the LS7 score.
METHODS:
We examined the components of CHV in 5,614 participants aged ≥15 years from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES). Metrics of the LS7 score (smoking, physical activity (PA), diet, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting total cholesterol and blood glucose) were analysed to generate a final score ranging from 0 to 14. Each LS7 component was scored (0 = poor, 1 = intermediate, 2 = ideal), and total CVH scores were categorized as poor (0–7), intermediate (8–11), or ideal (12–14). Latent class analysis was used to identify distinct health profiles, and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ideal CVH outcome.
RESULTS:
The participants were predominantly female (65.3%), mostly African (68.3%), with a mean age of 40.2 years. The weighted prevalence of ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH was 25.5% (95% CI, 22.5%-28.5%), 66.9% (95% CI, 63.1%-70.6%), and 7.5% (95% CI, 4.6%-12.2%), respectively. Ideal CVH prevalence declined sharply with age: from 55.5% (15–24 years) to 4.4% (≥65 years). Africans had a higher ideal CVH (26.7%) than other racial groups. Two latent classes emerged: Class 1 (38.5%), characterized by poor BMI, BP, and glucose; Class 2 (61.5%) with ideal metrics except for low PA. Geographic location, age, race, and employment status were predictive of ideal CVH outcome.
CONCLUSIONS:
Interventions must address low PA, obesity, and BP and glucose control, particularly in women and older adults, as part of an overall strategy aimed at improving CVH outcomes in this population.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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