https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9655-7628
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ABSTRACT
Background
Personal Health literacy (PHL) is essential in cardiovascular risk management. Hindrances in PHL can lead to poor cardiovascular outcomes.
Purpose
To investigate whether limited PHL is associated with lower likelihoods of i) overall cardiovascular health and ii) individual cardiovascular health components as defined by the American Heart Association’s Life Simple (LS7).
Methods
Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants (N = 3719; median age[range]: 59[45–84]) completed a PHL questionnaire in 2016–2018. PHL was classified as limited (score ≥10) or adequate (score <10). LS7 components were measured in 2000–2002. Robust Poisson regression was employed to compute prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (PR[95%CI]) of LS7 measures.
Results
14.7% of participants had limited PHL. Limited PHL was associated with lower likelihoods of optimal LS7 (0.69[0.50, 0.95], p = .02) and average LS7 (0.95[0.88, 1.02], p = .15) after adjustment. Limited PHL was significantly associated with a 7% lower likelihood of ideal fasting blood glucose level after adjustment (0.93[0.89, 0.98], p < .01).
Discussion
Limited PHL was modestly associated with suboptimal cardiovascular health and elevated blood glucose, independent of income and education.
Translation to Health Education Practice
Health educators and providers should equitably address PHL barriers to improve cardiovascular management and quality of care for patients and communities.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the other investigators, the staff, and the participants of the MESA study for their valuable contributions. A full list of participating MESA investigators and institutions can be found at http://www.mesa-nhlbi.org.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).