# Association between cardiovascular health and perceived quality of life in ethnically diverse adults: insights from the Community of Mine study using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7

## TL;DR

Better cardiovascular health is linked to higher perceived quality of life, especially in physical health, with differences based on sex and Hispanic ethnicity.

## Contribution

This study identifies how cardiovascular health metrics relate to quality of life in a diverse population, highlighting sex and ethnic differences.

## Key findings

- Ideal cardiovascular health is associated with higher overall perceived quality of life, particularly in physical health.
- Body mass index and physical activity are key factors linking cardiovascular health to quality of life.
- Sex and Hispanic ethnicity modify the relationship between cardiovascular health and perceived quality of life.

## Abstract

The association between cardiovascular health (CVH) with perceived quality of life (PQoL) and variations by sex and Hispanic ethnicity is not well understood.

This study included 583 participants (42% Hispanic, 56% female, mean age 59 years). Linear regression modeled the covariate-adjusted associations between CVH, using the combined 7 components of Life’s Simple 7 (LS7; ideal and intermediate, compared to poor), and PQoL (total and physical, social, and cognitive health domains). For individual LS7 components, we assessed effect modification by sex and Hispanic ethnicity.

Compared to individuals with poor CVH, those with intermediate (β [95% CI] = 0.22 [0.09, 0.35]) and ideal (β [95% CI] = 0.22 [0.08, 0.36]) CVH had higher overall PQoL. This effect was dominated by the physical PQoL domain. Of LS7 components, ideal body mass index (BMI) (β [95% CI] = 0.17 [0.03, 0.31]) and physical activity (β [95% CI] = 0.26 [0.12, 0.40]) were associated with overall PQoL. Ideal diet (β [95% CI] = 0.32 [0.08, 0.56]) and fasting plasma glucose (β [95% CI] = 0.32 [0.06, 0.58]) were associated with the physical PQoL domain. A higher PQoL score was associated with intermediate BMI in women, and physical PQoL was associated with smoking for women. A BMI*Hispanic interaction resulted in larger associations between intermediate/ideal BMI and physical PQoL in non-Hispanics.

Ideal or intermediate CVH health factors and health behaviors were associated with higher PQoL. Sex and ethnicity differences suggest that perceived quality of life is associated with BMI for women and non-Hispanics.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-024-03853-3.