Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities

Background Food insecurity is linked to poorer cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes, particularly in underresourced communities, where social determinants of health play a critical role. Despite the recognized connections, there remains a lack of empirical evidence delineating the implications of fo...

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Main Authors: Esther Porras‐Pérez, Juan L. Romero‐Cabrera, Alberto Díaz‐Cáceres, Alejandro Serrán‐Jiménez, Javier Arenas‐Montes, Patricia J. Peña‐Orihuela, Isabel De‐Castro‐Burón, Antonio García‐Ríos, José D. Torres‐Peña, María M. Malagón, Javier Delgado‐Lista, Jose M. Ordovás, Elena M. Yubero‐Serrano, Pablo Pérez‐Martínez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
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Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.037457
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author Esther Porras‐Pérez
Juan L. Romero‐Cabrera
Alberto Díaz‐Cáceres
Alejandro Serrán‐Jiménez
Javier Arenas‐Montes
Patricia J. Peña‐Orihuela
Isabel De‐Castro‐Burón
Antonio García‐Ríos
José D. Torres‐Peña
María M. Malagón
Javier Delgado‐Lista
Jose M. Ordovás
Elena M. Yubero‐Serrano
Pablo Pérez‐Martínez
author_facet Esther Porras‐Pérez
Juan L. Romero‐Cabrera
Alberto Díaz‐Cáceres
Alejandro Serrán‐Jiménez
Javier Arenas‐Montes
Patricia J. Peña‐Orihuela
Isabel De‐Castro‐Burón
Antonio García‐Ríos
José D. Torres‐Peña
María M. Malagón
Javier Delgado‐Lista
Jose M. Ordovás
Elena M. Yubero‐Serrano
Pablo Pérez‐Martínez
author_sort Esther Porras‐Pérez
collection DOAJ
description Background Food insecurity is linked to poorer cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes, particularly in underresourced communities, where social determinants of health play a critical role. Despite the recognized connections, there remains a lack of empirical evidence delineating the implications of food insecurity on CVH. CVH, a broader concept than cardiovascular disease, encompasses the overall well‐being of the cardiovascular system and is supported by favorable lifestyle choices and physiological metrics. Particularly in underresourced communities, the study of CVH could provide valuable insights for early intervention and targeted public health initiatives. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap. Methods and Results We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from the E‐DUCASS (Educational Strategy on a Vulnerable Population to Improve Cardiovascular Health and Food Insecurity) program (NCT05379842), a 24‐month randomized study targeting participants at risk for food insecurity. CVH was assessed using the Life's Essential 8 score. The sample included 451 participants aged 12 to 80 years, stratified by age (30.6% children [aged 12–19 years], 35.9% young adults [aged 20–39 years], and 33.5% adults [aged 40–80 years]) and sex (42.1% men and 57.9% women). The mean CVH score was 65.1 (95% CI, 63.9–66.4), with diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and body mass index being the lowest‐scoring metrics. Food insecurity significantly influenced CVH; those participants with severe food insecurity had lower CVH scores than those without (effect size, −2.83 [95% CI, −5.10 to −0.56]; P<0.05). Conclusions Our findings highlight the negative association between food insecurity and CVH in underresourced Mediterranean communities. These results underscore the need for strategies aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk, potentially through health literacy programs like E‐DUCASS, that focus on improving lifestyle and alleviating food insecurity. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT05379842.
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spelling doaj-art-2a70f7caee1e4ea2bad5d06e420fe39d2025-08-20T02:34:35ZengWileyJournal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease2047-99802025-03-0114610.1161/JAHA.124.037457Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced CommunitiesEsther Porras‐Pérez0Juan L. Romero‐Cabrera1Alberto Díaz‐Cáceres2Alejandro Serrán‐Jiménez3Javier Arenas‐Montes4Patricia J. Peña‐Orihuela5Isabel De‐Castro‐Burón6Antonio García‐Ríos7José D. Torres‐Peña8María M. Malagón9Javier Delgado‐Lista10Jose M. Ordovás11Elena M. Yubero‐Serrano12Pablo Pérez‐Martínez13Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainCommunication Department Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainCIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Institute of Health Carlos III Madrid SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainCIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Institute of Health Carlos III Madrid SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainLipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba Reina Sofia University Hospital Córdoba SpainBackground Food insecurity is linked to poorer cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes, particularly in underresourced communities, where social determinants of health play a critical role. Despite the recognized connections, there remains a lack of empirical evidence delineating the implications of food insecurity on CVH. CVH, a broader concept than cardiovascular disease, encompasses the overall well‐being of the cardiovascular system and is supported by favorable lifestyle choices and physiological metrics. Particularly in underresourced communities, the study of CVH could provide valuable insights for early intervention and targeted public health initiatives. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap. Methods and Results We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from the E‐DUCASS (Educational Strategy on a Vulnerable Population to Improve Cardiovascular Health and Food Insecurity) program (NCT05379842), a 24‐month randomized study targeting participants at risk for food insecurity. CVH was assessed using the Life's Essential 8 score. The sample included 451 participants aged 12 to 80 years, stratified by age (30.6% children [aged 12–19 years], 35.9% young adults [aged 20–39 years], and 33.5% adults [aged 40–80 years]) and sex (42.1% men and 57.9% women). The mean CVH score was 65.1 (95% CI, 63.9–66.4), with diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and body mass index being the lowest‐scoring metrics. Food insecurity significantly influenced CVH; those participants with severe food insecurity had lower CVH scores than those without (effect size, −2.83 [95% CI, −5.10 to −0.56]; P<0.05). Conclusions Our findings highlight the negative association between food insecurity and CVH in underresourced Mediterranean communities. These results underscore the need for strategies aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk, potentially through health literacy programs like E‐DUCASS, that focus on improving lifestyle and alleviating food insecurity. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT05379842.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.037457cardiovascular healthfood insecurityhealth disparitiessocial determinant of healthunderresourced communities
spellingShingle Esther Porras‐Pérez
Juan L. Romero‐Cabrera
Alberto Díaz‐Cáceres
Alejandro Serrán‐Jiménez
Javier Arenas‐Montes
Patricia J. Peña‐Orihuela
Isabel De‐Castro‐Burón
Antonio García‐Ríos
José D. Torres‐Peña
María M. Malagón
Javier Delgado‐Lista
Jose M. Ordovás
Elena M. Yubero‐Serrano
Pablo Pérez‐Martínez
Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities
Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
cardiovascular health
food insecurity
health disparities
social determinant of health
underresourced communities
title Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities
title_full Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities
title_fullStr Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities
title_full_unstemmed Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities
title_short Food Insecurity and Its Cardiovascular Implications in Underresourced Communities
title_sort food insecurity and its cardiovascular implications in underresourced communities
topic cardiovascular health
food insecurity
health disparities
social determinant of health
underresourced communities
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.037457
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