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Ebong IA, Quesada O, Fonkoue IT, Mattina D, Sullivan S, Oliveira GMMD, Spikes T, Sharma J, Commodore Y, Ogunniyi MO, Aggarwal NR, Vaccarino V. The Role of Psychosocial Stress on Cardiovascular Disease in Women: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol 2024; 84:298-314. [PMID: 38986672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress can affect cardiovascular health through multiple pathways. Certain stressors, such as socioeconomic disadvantage, childhood adversity, intimate partner violence, and caregiving stress, are especially common among women. The consequences of stress begin at a young age and persist throughout the life course. This is especially true for women, among whom the burden of negative psychosocial experiences tends to be larger in young age and midlife. Menarche, pregnancy, and menopause can further exacerbate stress in vulnerable women. Not only is psychosocial adversity prevalent in women, but it could have more pronounced consequences for cardiovascular risk among women than among men. These differential effects could reside in sex differences in responses to stress, combined with women's propensity toward vasomotor reactivity, microvascular dysfunction, and inflammation. The bulk of evidence suggests that targeting stress could be an important strategy for cardiovascular risk reduction in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imo A Ebong
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
| | - Odayme Quesada
- Women's Heart Center, Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education, Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ida T Fonkoue
- Divisions of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Deirdre Mattina
- Division of Regional Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Samaah Sullivan
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Telisa Spikes
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jyoti Sharma
- Division of Cardiology, Piedmont Heart Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yvonne Commodore
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Modele O Ogunniyi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Grady Health System, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Niti R Aggarwal
- Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Viola Vaccarino
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Dieujuste N, Mekawi Y, Doom JR. Examination of race-based traumatic stress symptom networks in Black adults in the United States: A network analysis. J Trauma Stress 2024; 37:397-409. [PMID: 38054549 DOI: 10.1002/jts.23003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, racism is theorized to exert its negative effects on Black individuals' mental health by triggering a response known as "race-based traumatic stress" (RBTS), a multidimensional construct comprising seven clusters of symptoms that can occur following exposure to race-based traumatic events (e.g., racial discrimination, racist incidents): depression, intrusion, anger, hypervigilance, physical symptoms, (low) self-esteem, and avoidance. However, little is known about which symptoms and clusters are strongest and most influential in the maintenance of RBTS. Network analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the etiology of traumatic stress, but it has not yet been applied to the examination of this construct. The present study aimed to identify the symptoms most central to RBTS and examine associations between symptoms and symptom clusters. Participants (N = 1,037) identified as Black, and lived in the United States (Mage = 45.12 years, range: 18-82 years) and completed the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale-Short Form (RBTSSS-SF). Regularized partial correlation networks were estimated using R/RStudio. The cluster- and item-level networks demonstrated adequate centrality stability, CS = .44. The depression and physical symptoms clusters were the most central nodes in the cluster network. Feelings of meaninglessness, experiencing mental images of the event, and physical trembling were the most central items within the item-level network. These findings offer insights and implications for assessing and treating symptoms of RBTS in Black adults in the United States who are exposed to race-based traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jenalee R Doom
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
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Vaccarino V, Bremner JD. Stress and cardiovascular disease: an update. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024:10.1038/s41569-024-01024-y. [PMID: 38698183 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-024-01024-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Psychological stress is generally accepted to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but results have varied in terms of how stress is measured and the strength of the association. Additionally, the mechanisms and potential causal links have remained speculative despite decades of research. The physiological responses to stress are well characterized, but their contribution to the development and progression of CVD has received little attention in empirical studies. Evidence suggests that physiological responses to stress have a fundamental role in the risk of CVD and that haemodynamic, vascular and immune perturbations triggered by stress are especially implicated. Stress response physiology is regulated by the corticolimbic regions of the brain, which have outputs to the autonomic nervous system. Variation in these regulatory pathways might explain interindividual differences in vulnerability to stress. Dynamic perturbations in autonomic, immune and vascular functions are probably also implicated as CVD risk mechanisms of chronic, recurring and cumulative stressful exposures, but more data are needed from prospective studies and from assessments in real-life situations. Psychological assessment remains insufficiently recognized in clinical care and prevention. Although stress-reduction interventions might mitigate perceived stress levels and potentially reduce cardiovascular risk, more data from randomized trials are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Vaccarino
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - J Douglas Bremner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
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Agbonlahor O, DeJarnett N, Hart JL, Bhatnagar A, McLeish AC, Walker KL. Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Systematic Review. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:783-807. [PMID: 36976513 PMCID: PMC10044132 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Racial discrimination has been identified as a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among racial/ethnic minority groups; however, there is no synthesis of current knowledge on the association between discrimination and cardiometabolic diseases. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize evidence linking racial/ethnic discrimination and cardiometabolic diseases. METHODS The review was conducted based on studies identified via electronic searches of 5 databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, WorldWideScience.org, ResearchGate and Microsoft Academic) using terms related to discrimination and cardiometabolic disease. RESULTS Of the 123 eligible studies included in the review, 87 were cross-sectional, 25 longitudinal, 8 quasi-experimental, 2 randomized controlled trials and 1 case-control. Cardiometabolic disease outcomes discussed were hypertension (n = 46), cardiovascular disease (n = 40), obesity (n = 12), diabetes (n = 11), metabolic syndrome (n = 9), and chronic kidney disease (n = 5). Although a variety of discrimination measures was employed across the studies, the Everyday Discrimination Scale was used most often (32.5%). African Americans/Blacks were the most frequently studied racial/ethnic group (53.1%), and American Indians the least (0.02%). Significant associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and cardiometabolic disease were found in 73.2% of the studies. DISCUSSION Racial/ethnic discrimination is positively associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease and higher levels of cardiometabolic biomarkers. Identifying racial/ethnic discrimination as a potential key contributor to the health inequities associated with cardiometabolic diseases is important for addressing the significant burden borne by racial/ethnic minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osayande Agbonlahor
- Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
| | - Natasha DeJarnett
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- Division of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
| | - Joy L. Hart
- Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- American Heart Association Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Aruni Bhatnagar
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- Division of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- American Heart Association Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Alison C. McLeish
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- American Heart Association Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science, Dallas, TX USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
| | - Kandi L. Walker
- Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY USA
- American Heart Association Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science, Dallas, TX USA
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Cook SH, Wood EP, Stein JH, McClelland RL. Discrimination, Smoking, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Moderated Mediation Analysis With MESA. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e032659. [PMID: 38390806 PMCID: PMC10944061 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.032659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque are reliable indicators of cardiovascular disease risk, and research highlights that racial and ethnic minority individuals generally exhibit higher cIMT and carotid plaque than White individuals. At present, the mechanisms driving these disparities among different racial and ethnic and biological sex groups are poorly understood. METHODS AND RESULTS Data came from the baseline examination of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). A total of 6814 participants aged 45 to 84 years free of clinical cardiovascular disease completed assessments on health behavior and perceived discrimination. Four sex-stratified moderated mediation models examined associations between discrimination, cigarette smoking, and mean cIMT and plaque. We hypothesized that cigarette use would mediate the association between discrimination and carotid artery disease features, and that these would differ by race and ethnicity. Indirect effects of discrimination on plaque were observed among Hispanic women such that discrimination was associated with cigarette use and, in turn, higher plaque (β=0.04 [95% CI, 0.01-0.08]). Indirect effects of discrimination on mean cIMT were found among Hispanic (β=0.003 [95% CI, 0.0001-0.007]) and White men (β=0.04 [95% CI, 0.01-0.08]) such that discrimination was associated with cigarette use and, in turn, higher cIMT. Finally, a positive indirect effect of discrimination on plaque was observed among Hispanic men (β=0.03 [95% CI, 0.004-0.07]). No other racial and ethnic differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS To understand and address social determinants of cardiovascular disease, researchers must incorporate an intersectional framework that will allow us to understand the complex nature of discrimination and cardiovascular disease risk for individuals of varying intersecting identities and social positions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H. Cook
- Department of Social and Behavioral SciencesNew York University School of Global Public HealthNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of BiostatisticsNew York University School of Global Public HealthNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Erica P. Wood
- Department of Social and Behavioral SciencesNew York University School of Global Public HealthNew YorkNYUSA
| | - James H. Stein
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWIUSA
| | - Robyn L. McClelland
- Department of BiostatisticsUniversity of Washington School of Public HealthSeattleWAUSA
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Cook SH, Wood EP, Rodrigues M, Jachero Caldas J, Delorme M. Assessment of a Daily Diary Study Including Biospecimen Collections in a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults: Feasibility and Acceptability Study. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e52195. [PMID: 38373036 PMCID: PMC10912985 DOI: 10.2196/52195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young sexual minority men (YSMM) engage in cardiometabolic risk behaviors (eg, substance use) at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts. Theory and previous research suggest that these risk behaviors may stem, in part, from exposure to minority stress (ie, discrimination based on sexual identity and other identities such as race). OBJECTIVE This pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual 2-day daily diary study that examined daily experiences with discrimination, cardiometabolic risk behaviors (ie, sleep, physical activity, and substance use behaviors), and patterns of physiological stress and inflammation among YSMM aged 18 to 35 years. METHODS Participants (n=20) were recruited from the greater New York metropolitan area and engaged in a 2-day daily diary protocol wherein they provided web-based consent, took a web-based baseline survey, and then, starting the next day, provided 3 saliva samples a day for 2 consecutive days to measure salivary cortisol, engaged in 3 daily diaries per day, and provided 1 blood spot sample via the finger prick method to measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. At follow-up, participants were interviewed via videoconferencing to ascertain their experiences and feelings related to the study protocol. Qualitative analyses explored the feasibility and acceptability of the study protocol, and exploratory quantitative analyses explored the descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations among the main study variables of interest. RESULTS The retention rate was high (19/20, 95%) in our study sample. Qualitative analyses demonstrated that participants were willing to engage in similar, longer-term studies (eg, studies that include both week and weekend days) in the future and suggested the feasibility and acceptability of our study protocol among YSMM. However, participants noted several areas for improvement (eg, redundancy of survey items and difficulty pricking one's finger) that should be considered in future research. Preliminary quantitative analyses revealed a moderate negative correlation between everyday discrimination and mean cortisol levels (r=-0.51; P=.03). Furthermore, descriptive analyses suggest that that daily cortisol curves differ across races or ethnicities among YSMM. White and other-identified YSMM experienced the highest cortisol awakening response (mean 0.39, SD 0.21 µg/dL for White participants; mean 0.34, SD 0.34 µg/dL for others) with the steepest decline around bedtime (mean 0.05, SD 0.04 µg/dL for White participants; mean 0.09, SD 0.13 µg/dL for others) followed by a lower cortisol awakening response (mean 0.31, SD 0.11 µg/dL for Hispanic participants; mean 0.23, SD 0.15 µg/dL for Black participants) and a slower decline around bedtime (mean 0.10, SD 0.09 µg/dL for Hispanic participants; mean 0.03, SD 0.02 µg/dL for Black participants) among Hispanic and Black YSMM. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results suggest that similar study protocols are feasible and acceptable among YSMM. Future research should highlight the pathways through which cardiovascular disease risk may arise among YSMM using longer-term study designs and more diverse study samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H Cook
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Erica P Wood
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mariana Rodrigues
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Janice Jachero Caldas
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maxline Delorme
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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Nonterah CW. Systems Connected to Inequities in Access to Kidney Transplantation and the Value of Intersectionality. Transpl Int 2024; 37:11658. [PMID: 38344260 PMCID: PMC10853452 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2024.11658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Patients from minoritized backgrounds based on race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and other social identities are more likely to experience inequities in access in kidney transplantation. Although these inequities have been reported over the decades, limited research focuses on the experiences of patients with intersecting minoritized social statuses and the mechanisms that contribute to their reduced access to transplantation. Intersectionality, a framework for understanding the ways in which multiple social identities represent interacting systems of oppression and privilege, offers a nuanced approach for understanding the experiences of patients diagnosed with end-stage organ disease with intersecting social identities. This article outlines complex systems that perpetuate inequities by highlighting the value of intersectionality in studying disparate outcomes to transplant and providing recommendations for the transplant community. This article aligns with the ESOT call for action to promote equity in transplantation worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla W. Nonterah
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA, United States
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Caceres BA, Sharma Y, Levine A, Wall MM, Hughes TL. Investigating the Associations of Sexual Minority Stressors and Incident Hypertension in a Community Sample of Sexual Minority Adults. Ann Behav Med 2023; 57:1004-1013. [PMID: 37306778 PMCID: PMC10653588 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual minority adults are at higher risk of hypertension than their heterosexual counterparts. Sexual minority stressors (i.e., unique stressors attributed to sexual minority identity) are associated with a variety of poor mental and physical health outcomes. Previous research has not tested associations between sexual minority stressors and incident hypertension among sexual minority adults. PURPOSE To examine the associations between sexual minority stressors and incident hypertension among sexual minority adults assigned female sex at birth. METHODS Using data from a longitudinal study, we examined associations between three sexual minority stressors and self-reported hypertension. We ran multiple logistic regression models to estimate the associations between sexual minority stressors and hypertension. We conducted exploratory analyses to determine whether these associations differed by race/ethnicity and sexual identity (e.g., lesbian/gay vs. bisexual). RESULTS The sample included 380 adults, mean age 38.4 (± 12.81) years. Approximately 54.5% were people of color and 93.9% were female-identified. Mean follow-up was 7.0 (± 0.6) years; during which 12.4% were diagnosed with hypertension. We found that a 1-standard deviation increase in internalized homophobia was associated with higher odds of developing hypertension (AOR 1.48, 95% Cl: 1.06-2.07). Stigma consciousness (AOR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.56-1.26) and experiences of discrimination (AOR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.72-1.52) were not associated with hypertension. The associations of sexual minority stressors with hypertension did not differ by race/ethnicity or sexual identity. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to examine the associations between sexual minority stressors and incident hypertension in sexual minority adults. Implications for future studies are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billy A Caceres
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, Room 603, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yashika Sharma
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, Room 603, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alina Levine
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tonda L Hughes
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, Room 603, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Lewis TT. Hypertension Among Black Women-College-Educated But More at Risk? JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2344681. [PMID: 37991766 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.44681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tené T Lewis
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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MICHAELS ELIK, LAM‐HINE TRACY, NGUYEN THUT, GEE GILBERTC, ALLEN AMANIM. The Water Surrounding the Iceberg: Cultural Racism and Health Inequities. Milbank Q 2023; 101:768-814. [PMID: 37435779 PMCID: PMC10509530 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Cultural racism-or the widespread values that privilege and protect Whiteness and White social and economic power-permeates all levels of society, uplifts other dimensions of racism, and contributes to health inequities. Overt forms of racism, such as racial hate crimes, represent only the "tip of the iceberg," whereas structural and institutional racism represent its base. This paper advances cultural racism as the "water surrounding the iceberg," allowing it to float while obscuring its base. Considering the fundamental role of cultural racism is needed to advance health equity. CONTEXT Cultural racism is a pervasive social toxin that surrounds all other dimensions of racism to produce and maintain racial health inequities. Yet, cultural racism has received relatively little attention in the public health literature. The purpose of this paper is to 1) provide public health researchers and policymakers with a clearer understanding of what cultural racism is, 2) provide an understanding of how it operates in conjunction with the other dimensions of racism to produce health inequities, and 3) offer directions for future research and interventions on cultural racism. METHODS We conducted a nonsystematic, multidisciplinary review of theory and empirical evidence that conceptualizes, measures, and documents the consequences of cultural racism for social and health inequities. FINDINGS Cultural racism can be defined as a culture of White supremacy, which values, protects, and normalizes Whiteness and White social and economic power. This ideological system operates at the level of our shared social consciousness and is expressed in the language, symbols, and media representations of dominant society. Cultural racism surrounds and bolsters structural, institutional, personally mediated, and internalized racism, undermining health through material, cognitive/affective, biologic, and behavioral mechanisms across the life course. CONCLUSIONS More time, research, and funding is needed to advance measurement, elucidate mechanisms, and develop evidence-based policy interventions to reduce cultural racism and promote health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- ELI K. MICHAELS
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public HealthUniversity of California
| | - TRACY LAM‐HINE
- Division of Epidemiology & Population HealthStanford University School of Medicine
| | | | - GILBERT C. GEE
- Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public HealthUniversity of California
| | - AMANI M. ALLEN
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public HealthUniversity of California
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of California
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Oakley LP, Li X, Tartof SY, Wilkes-Grundy M, Fassett MJ, Lawrence JM. Racial Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity in an Integrated Health Care System, Southern California, 2008-2017. Womens Health Issues 2023; 33:280-288. [PMID: 36740539 PMCID: PMC10213118 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study's objectives were to examine rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) over a 10-year period and assess racial/ethnic disparities in SMM among insured women in a large, integrated health care system in Southern California. METHODS We included Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health plan members who gave birth at ≥20 weeks' gestation in a KPSC-owned hospital during 2008-2017. An SMM case was defined as presence of one or more indicators of an SMM event during a birth hospitalization, identified using maternal electronic health records. Crude SMM rates/10,000 births were calculated by year and maternal race/ethnicity. Modified Poisson regression models were used to assess the association between race/ethnicity and SMM adjusted for other maternal demographics, pregnancy characteristics, and preexisting conditions. RESULTS We identified 5,915 SMM cases among 335,310 births. Crude SMM rates increased from 94.7 per 10,000 in 2008 to 192.6 in 2015 and 249.5 in 2017. Non-Hispanic Black (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-1.69), Asian/Pacific Islander (aRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18-1.41), and Hispanic (aRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10-1.27) women had greater likelihood of SMM than non-Hispanic White women. After further adjusting for preexisting health conditions, differences in SMM by race/ethnicity remained. CONCLUSIONS SMM rates increased during 2008-2017 and women of racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly non-Hispanic Black women, were more likely to experience an SMM event than non-Hispanic White women. Multilevel approaches to understanding structural and social factors that may be associated with racial and ethnic disparities in SMM are needed to develop and test effective interventions to reduce SMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa P Oakley
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California.
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California
| | - Sara Y Tartof
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California
| | - Madalynne Wilkes-Grundy
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles California
| | - Michael J Fassett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jean M Lawrence
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California
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Cundiff JM, Kamarck TW, Muldoon MF, Marsland AL, Manuck SB. Expectations of respect and appreciation in daily life and associations with subclinical cardiovascular disease. Health Psychol 2023; 42:53-62. [PMID: 36409101 PMCID: PMC9853515 DOI: 10.1037/hea0001255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test whether expectations of respect and appreciation from others, assessed in daily life, are associated with preclinical vascular disease. METHOD Participants were an urban community sample of 483 employed adults (47% male, 17% Black, mean age = 42.8 years). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured using B-mode ultrasound. Expectations of being treated with respect and appreciation were measured using the average of hourly assessments over the course of 4 days, and home and work averages were also examined separately. RESULTS Expectations of greater respect and appreciation from others were associated with significantly less carotid IMT even after adjustment for demographic factors, general positivity and negativity of social interactions, neuroticism, optimism, perceived discrimination, and concurrent biological risk factors. This association was similar across social contexts of work and home and also when expectations of respect and appreciation were examined separately. Lower expectations of respect and appreciation and more negative social interactions were both independently associated with greater IMT in fully adjusted models and effect sizes were similar to traditional biological risk factors such as BMI. CONCLUSIONS Midlife adults who anticipate greater respect and appreciation from others in everyday life evidence less preclinical vascular disease. Consistent with the literature showing that anticipation of social threats and unfair treatment may increase cardiovascular risk, expectations of being valued and treated with respect by others is associated with decreased risk. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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13
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Manning M, Lucas T, Purrington K, Thompson H, Albrecht TL, Penner L. Moderators of the effects of perceived racism and discrimination on cancer-related health behaviors among two samples of African Americans. Soc Sci Med 2023; 316:114982. [PMID: 35484000 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assumptions regarding within-race variation in the associations between measures of discrimination racism and health-related behaviors among African Americans have been largely unexplored. METHODS We conducted secondary analyses of two studies to examine support for a model which describes several theoretical moderators of the effects of discrimination and racism on health behaviors. The first study examined the effects of group-based behavioral information and racial identity on the association between perceived racism and requests for at home colorectal cancer screening tests among a sample of 205 geographically diverse African Americans who participated in an online experiment from 2019 to 2020. RESULTS Group-based behavioral information attenuated the association between perceived racism and requests for at-home screening kit. In the absence of group-based behavioral information, perceived racism was positively associated with screening kit requests for African Americans with weaker racial identity and negatively associated with requests for African Americans with stronger racial identity. The second study examined the influence of personal and group-based perceived discrimination, and behavior-relevant affective information related to a breast cancer risk notification, on 89 Michigan dwelling African American women's self-reported physician communication from 2015 to 2016. Results showed that perceived group-based discrimination was positively associated with physician communication in the absence of negative affective information, and perceived personal discrimination was negatively associated with physician communication as positive affective information increased. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results support our theoretical model highlighting variation in the effects of discrimination and racism on health behaviors among African Americans, and indicates group-relevant behavioral information, racial identity, behavior relevant affective information, and target of discrimination as moderators of the effect. Implications for conceptualizing the effects of racism and discrimination and for examining racially targeted interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Manning
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, USA
| | - Todd Lucas
- Division of Public Health, Michigan State University, USA
| | | | - Hayley Thompson
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
| | | | - Louis Penner
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
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14
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Muscatell KA, Alvarez GM, Bonar AS, Cardenas MN, Galvan MJ, Merritt CC, Starks MD. Brain-body pathways linking racism and health. AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2022; 77:1049-1060. [PMID: 36595402 PMCID: PMC9887645 DOI: 10.1037/amp0001084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Racial disparities in health are a major public health problem in the United States, especially when comparing chronic disease morbidity and mortality for Black versus White Americans. These health disparities are primarily due to insidious anti-Black racism that permeates American history, current culture and institutions, and interpersonal interactions. But how does racism get under the skull and the skin to influence brain and bodily processes that impact the health of Black Americans? In the present article, we present a model describing the possible neural and inflammatory mechanisms linking racism and health. We hypothesize that racism influences neural activity and connectivity in the salience and default mode networks of the brain and disrupts interactions between these networks and the executive control network. This pattern of neural functioning in turn leads to greater sympathetic nervous system signaling, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, and increased expression of genes involved in inflammation, ultimately leading to higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the body and brain. Over time, these neural and physiological responses can lead to chronic physical and mental health conditions, disrupt well-being, and cause premature mortality. Given that research in this area is underdeveloped to date, we emphasize opportunities for future research that are needed to build a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the brain-body pathways linking anti-Black racism and health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely A Muscatell
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Gabriella M Alvarez
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Adrienne S Bonar
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Megan N Cardenas
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Manuel J Galvan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Carrington C Merritt
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Maurryce D Starks
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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15
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Salas-Hernández L, DeVylder JE, Cooper HLF, Duarte CDP, Sewell AA, Walker ER, Haardörfer R. Latent Class Profiles of Police Violence Exposure in 4 US Cities and Their Associations with Anticipation of Police Violence and Mental Health Outcomes. J Urban Health 2022; 99:655-668. [PMID: 35668136 PMCID: PMC9360379 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00643-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
While studying polyvictimization is well established within the broader violence literature and applied to other types of violence, it has yet to be documented whether polyvictimization also presents in patterns of police violence exposure (i.e., neglectful, psychological, physical, and sexual police violence). Our objective was to analyze latent patterns of co-occurring police contact and their associations with mental health. By applying latent class analysis (LCA) methods to the 2016 and 2017 Surveys of Police-Public Encounters (N = 2615), conducted in 4 Northeastern US cities, we identified classes of direct and vicarious police violence and compared sociodemographic characteristics among classes using multinomial regression. Classes were regressed on mental health outcomes. LCA identified four classes of police contact. Compared to Positive Police Contact (33.0%) class members, members of the (a) Extreme Police Violence (4.0%) class reported higher anticipation of future police victimization, psychological distress, and suicide ideations and attempts; they were more likely to be Black, cisgender men, and Latinx; (b) members of the High Police Violence (23.6%) class reported higher anticipation of future police victimization and psychological distress; they were more likely to be Black, Native American, and multiracial; members of the (c) Low Police Contact (39.5%) class had comparable mental health outcomes; they were more likely to report a household income < $19,999. Notably, no participants were unexposed to police contact. Polyvictimization presents in experiences of police violence and disproportionately impacts structurally marginalized people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jordan E DeVylder
- Graduate School of Social Work, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Dai JD, Levine CS. I Am Not A Virus: Status-Based Rejection Sensitivity and Sleep Among East Asian People in the United States During COVID-19. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2022; 14:395-406. [PMID: 36969090 PMCID: PMC10031274 DOI: 10.1177/19485506221106847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As COVID-19 spread in the United States, anti-East Asian bias increased. This article aimed to (1) show that thinking about COVID-19 heightened East Asian individuals’ anxious expectations of discrimination and (2) explore these expectations’ health correlates. Specifically, the paper focused on COVID-19-triggered race-based rejection sensitivity, defined as (1) East Asian individuals’ expectations of rejection due to the stereotype that they spread the virus and (2) high levels of anxiety about this possibility. Study 1 ( N = 412) showed that reminders of COVID-19 increased COVID-19-triggered race-based rejection sensitivity among Chinese citizens living in the United States and East Asian Americans, but not Americans of other races. Study 2 ( N = 473) demonstrated that East Asian people who habitually focused on COVID-19 experienced greater COVID-19-triggered race-based rejection sensitivity and, in turn, greater sleep difficulties. Thus, societal-level shifts that target minoritized groups may increase minoritized group members’ concerns about discrimination in ways that undermine their health.
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17
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Van Dyke ME, Crawford ND, Lewis TT. Van Dyke et al. Respond to "Methodological Considerations in Investigating Discrimination". Am J Epidemiol 2022; 191:384-385. [PMID: 34431496 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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18
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A randomized trial of race-related stress among African Americans with chronic kidney disease. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 131:105339. [PMID: 34175554 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE African Americans progress from early to late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) at a rate that is three times that of Whites. Given research that implicates social stress in poor kidney outcomes, there is a need to examine whether race-related stress contributes to these disparities. Through experimental manipulation, this study sought to determine whether acute race-related stress was associated with autonomic arousal and an inflammatory marker, which are well-established pathways to poor kidney outcomes. Further we tested the hypothesis that expectations of racism may moderate this relationship. METHOD Fifty-two African American patients along the CKD continuum were randomized to recall a general or race-related stressful experience. Before, during, and after the recall, patients' blood pressure and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were monitored. Prior to the experimental manipulation, participants completed self-reported measures of expectations of racism. RESULTS Across both study conditions, change in self-reported distress from baseline to stress was associated with both systolic and diastolic reactivity (both ps <.01), but not change in IL-6 responses (all ps > 0.05). A significant interaction revealed that those who were randomized to recall a race-related stressor demonstrated less diastolic blood pressure reactivity (F=4.80, p<.05) if they scored lower in expectations of racism as compared to those who scored high. Moreover, those who were randomized to the race-related stressor demonstrated greater increase in IL-6 from 45 to 90 min post-recall than those who recalled a general stressor (F=6.35, p<.05). CONCLUSIONS Acute race-related stress may be associated with autonomic arousal and inflammatory response among African American patients along the CKD continuum, suggesting the need to further understand its role in racial disparities in CKD progression.
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Han SD, Barnes LL, Leurgans S, Yu L, Stewart CC, Lamar M, Glover CM, Bennett DA, Boyle PA. Susceptibility to Scams in Older Black and White Adults. Front Psychol 2021; 12:685258. [PMID: 34322065 PMCID: PMC8311557 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.685258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports on racial differences in scam susceptibility have yielded mixed findings, and few studies have examined reasons for any observed race differences. Older Black and White participants without dementia (N = 592) from the Minority Aging Research Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project who completed a susceptibility to scam questionnaire and other measures were matched according to age, education, sex, and global cognition using Mahalanobis distance. In adjusted models, older Black adults were less susceptible to scams than older White adults (Beta = -0.2496, SE = 0.0649, p = 0.0001). Contextual factors did not mediate and affective factors did not moderate this association. Analyses of specific items revealed Black adults had greater knowledge of scam targeting of older adults and were less likely to pick up the phone for unidentified callers. Older Black adults are less susceptible to scams than demographically-matched older White adults, although the reasons remain unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Duke Han
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lisa L Barnes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Sue Leurgans
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lei Yu
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Christopher C Stewart
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Melissa Lamar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Crystal M Glover
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Patricia A Boyle
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
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20
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Diamond LM, Dehlin AJ, Alley J. Systemic inflammation as a driver of health disparities among sexually-diverse and gender-diverse individuals. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 129:105215. [PMID: 34090051 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Sexually-diverse individuals (those who seek sexual or romantic relationships with the same and/or multiple genders) and gender-diverse individuals (those whose gender identity and/or expression differs from their birth-assigned sex/gender) have disproportionately high physical health problems, but the underlying biological causes for these health disparities remain unclear. Building on the minority stress model linking social stigmatization to health outcomes, we argue that systemic inflammation (the body's primary response to both physical and psychological threats, indicated by inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokines) is a primary biobehavioral pathway linking sexual and gender stigma to physical health outcomes. Expectations and experiences of social threat (i.e., rejection, shame, and isolation) are widespread and chronic among sexually-diverse and gender-diverse individuals, and social threats are particularly potent drivers of inflammation. We review research suggesting that framing "minority stress" in terms of social safety versus threat, and attending specifically to the inflammatory consequences of these experiences, can advance our understanding of the biobehavioral consequences of sexual and gender stigma and can promote the development of health promoting interventions for this population.
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21
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McKinnon II, Shah AJ, Lima B, Moazzami K, Young A, Sullivan S, Almuwaqqat Z, Garcia M, Elon L, Bremner JD, Raggi P, Quyyumi AA, Vaccarino V, Lewis TT. Everyday Discrimination and Mental Stress-Induced Myocardial Ischemia. Psychosom Med 2021; 83:432-439. [PMID: 34080584 PMCID: PMC8225242 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI), a transient myocardial ischemic response to mental stress, is associated with poorer outcomes among patients with coronary heart disease and is more likely to occur among women. However, predictors of MSIMI are not well explored. The current study investigated the association between experiences of everyday discrimination and MSIMI among patients with recent myocardial ischemia and contrasted the results with conventional stress-induced myocardial ischemia (CSIMI). We examined sex differences in associations. METHODS We studied 295 post-MI patients (145 women, 150 men). Provocation of myocardial ischemia with mental stress (speech task) and conventional stress (exercise or pharmacologic) was assessed by myocardial perfusion imaging. Frequency of exposure to everyday discrimination was assessed via questionnaire using the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS). RESULTS The mean age was 51 years in both women and men, and the EDS score ranged from 10 to 38 (mean [standard deviation] = 17 [6] years). After multivariable analysis, each standard deviation increase in the EDS score (more frequent exposure) was associated with an increased odds of MSIMI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57 [1.10-2.23]). The EDS score was not associated with CSIMI (OR = 0.86 [0.64-1.17]). Women demonstrated a twofold increase (OR = 1.96 [1.13-3.38], p = .02) in the adjusted odds of MSIMI, with each standard deviation increase in the EDS score compared with a 1.4-fold increase (OR = 1.40 [0.80-2.44], p = .24) among men; however, interaction was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Among post-MI patients, everyday discrimination was positively associated with occurrence of MSIMI, but not with CSIMI; associations were more pronounced among women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izraelle I. McKinnon
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Amit J. Shah
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia
| | - Bruno Lima
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Kasra Moazzami
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - An Young
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Samaah Sullivan
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Zakaria Almuwaqqat
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mariana Garcia
- Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Lisa Elon
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - J. Douglas Bremner
- Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Paolo Raggi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Arshed A. Quyyumi
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Viola Vaccarino
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Tené T. Lewis
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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22
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Brain-heart connections in stress and cardiovascular disease: Implications for the cardiac patient. Atherosclerosis 2021; 328:74-82. [PMID: 34102426 PMCID: PMC8254768 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The influence of psychological stress on the physiology of the cardiovascular system, and on the etiology and outcomes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the object of intense investigation. As a whole, current knowledge points to a "brain-heart axis" that is especially important in individuals with pre-existing CVD. The use of acute psychological stress provocation in the laboratory has been useful to clarify the effects of psychological stress on cardiovascular physiology, immune function, vascular reactivity, myocardial ischemia, neurobiology and cardiovascular outcomes. An emerging paradigm is that dynamic perturbations of physiological and molecular pathways during stress or negative emotions are important in influencing cardiovascular outcomes, and that some patient subgroups, such as women, patients with an early-onset myocardial infarction, and patients with adverse psychosocial exposures, may be at especially high risk for these effects. This review summarizes recent knowledge on mind-body connections in CVD among cardiac patients and highlights important pathways of risk which could become the object of future intervention efforts. As a whole, this research suggests that an integrated study of mind and body is necessary to fully understand the determinants and consequences of CVD.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine associations among race, the accumulation of multiple forms of discriminatory experiences (i.e., "pervasive discrimination"), and allostatic load (AL) in African Americans and whites in midlife. METHODS Using data collected in 2004 to 2006 from 226 African American and 978 white adults (57% female; mean [SD] age = 54.7 [0.11] years) in the Midlife in the United States II Biomarker Project, a pervasive discrimination score was created by combining three discrimination scales, and an AL score was created based on 24 biomarkers representing seven physiological systems. Linear regression models were conducted to examine the association between pervasive discrimination and AL, adjusting for demographics and medical, behavioral, and personality covariates. A race by pervasive discrimination interaction was also examined to determine whether associations varied by race. RESULTS African Americans had higher pervasive discrimination and AL scores than did whites. In models adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic status, medications, health behaviors, neuroticism, and negative affect, a pervasive discrimination score of 2 versus 0 was associated with a greater AL score (b = 0.30, SE = 0.07, p < .001). Although associations seemed to be stronger among African Americans as compared with whites, associations did not statistically differ by race. CONCLUSIONS More pervasive discrimination was related to greater multisystemic physiological dysregulation in a cohort of African American and white adults. Measuring discrimination by combining multiple forms of discriminatory experiences may be important for studying the health effects of discrimination.
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Interactive Relations Across Dimensions of Interpersonal-Level Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms to Carotid Intimal-Medial Thickening in African Americans. Psychosom Med 2020; 82:234-246. [PMID: 31738316 PMCID: PMC9513678 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine within-race interactions of multiple dimensions of self-reported discrimination with depressive symptoms in relation to carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT), a subclinical marker of atherosclerosis prospectively implicated in stroke incidence, in middle-aged to older African American and white adults. METHODS Participants were a socioeconomically diverse group of 1941 African Americans (56.5%) and whites from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study (30-64 years old, 47% men, 45.2% with household income <125% federal poverty threshold) who underwent carotid IMT measurement. Discrimination was assessed across four dimensions (everyday, frequency across various social statuses, racial, and lifetime burden). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. RESULTS In cross-sectional hierarchical regression analyses, two interactions were observed in African Americans: more frequent discrimination across various social statuses (b < 0.001, p = .006) and a higher lifetime discrimination burden (b < 0.001, p = .02) were each related to thicker carotid IMT in those with greater depressive symptoms. No significant findings were observed within whites. CONCLUSIONS Among African Americans, those reporting high levels of discrimination and depressive symptoms have increased carotid atherosclerosis and may be at greater risk for clinical end points compared with those reporting one or neither of these risk factors. Findings suggest that assessment of interactive relationships among social and psychological factors may elucidate novel pathways for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, among African Americans.
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Emotions in Social Relationships and Their Implications for Health and Disease: Introduction to the Special Issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. Psychosom Med 2019; 81:676-680. [PMID: 31599821 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Social relationships and emotions are important to health and disease, but research in this area has largely progressed along parallel and distinct historical paths. These areas are critically linked because relationships are among the most powerful elicitors of health-relevant emotions and emotions can in turn influence relationships for better or worse. Conceptually, relationships and emotions can have mediational, reciprocal, and interactive influences on health outcomes, associations that seem dependent on the broader sociocultural context. The articles in this issue of Psychosomatic Medicine are based on a joint meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society and the Society for Affective Science titled "Emotions in social relationships: implications for health and disease." Recent research and conceptual models that fall at the interface of relationships, emotions, and health are highlighted in this special issue. Future work that capitalizes on these links will be critical if this area is to fulfill its potential in terms of new scientific insights and intervention opportunities.
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