Characterizing Early Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Among Black Women

Objective: Cardiovascular disease contributes to the high rates of postpartum morbidity and mortality among Black American women. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) metric, comprising four health behaviors and four objectively measured health factors, has been used to characterize cardiovascular health (CVH) in general adult populations and during pregnancy. Characterizing early postpartum CVH among Black women using the LE8 metric is an important step towards understanding CVH risk during a sensitive period. Methods: Ninety-five Black women ( M Age =28.3 years, SD =1.52) reported on LE8 health behaviors and completed anthropometric measures and a venous blood draw to measures LE8 health factors in the first six months following delivery. Data were used to generate the LE8 component scores, total LE8, and LE8 health behavior and factor scores, ranging from “low” (0-49) to “high” (80-100) CVH. Results: Mean total LE8 CVH was in the “moderate” range ( M =68.5, SD =14.1), with scores ranging from 28.8 (“low” CVH) to 93.8 (“high” CVH). The range of the total LE8 scores reflects the degree of variability between the LE8 component scores. Participants scored higher on LE8 health factors ( M= 71.6, SD =17.3) than health behaviors ( M= 65.4, SD =18.7; paired t =2.70, P =.008). Sociodemographic factors were unrelated to postpartum CVH. Conclusions: The LE8 metric captured variability in early postpartum CVH among a community sample of Black women. Early postpartum LE8 indices could provide a useful indicator of current health and help to inform health screening efforts to identify those at-risk, although longitudinal studies are urgently needed.