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Background Children of South Asian (SA) origin in the UK have lower levels of physical activity (PA), compared to their White counterparts. Parents play an important role in establishing PA habits among young children. The aim of this study was to compare PA and television (TV) viewing parenting practices for young children between SA British (SAB) and White British (WB) parents living in the UK. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford (BiB) 1000 study, using survey data at child ages 24 and 36 months. The study sample included three groups of mothers ( n  = 1,149): foreign-born SAB ( n  = 458), UK-born SAB ( n  = 276), and WB ( n  = 455). Mothers completed a survey about parenting practices (i.e., PA supports, PA restrictions, TV viewing restrictions) at child age 24 months and child PA and TV viewing behaviors at child ages 24 and 36 months. Parenting practices were compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared children’s weekly walking frequency and daily TV viewing hours by parenting practices in the three groups. Results The foreign-born SAB group showed the lowest frequencies of PA-supportive parenting practices (verbal encouragement: 3.7 ± 3.1 times/week; logistic support: 1.5 ± 1.8 times/week) and the highest frequencies of PA-restrictive parenting practices (7.8 ± 7.7 times/week) among the three groups ( p  < 0.01). Children of Foreign-born SAB mothers had the most frequent TV watching during a mealtime (4.0 ± 3.1 times/week) among the three groups ( p  < 0.01). Less frequent PA-supportive parenting practices and SA ethnicity were associated with lower walking frequency at 24 and 36 months of age among children ( p  < 0.01). More frequent exposure to TV at mealtimes and SA ethnicity were associated with higher TV viewing time at 24 and 36 months of age among children ( p  < 0.01). Conclusions This study demonstrated that SAB parents, particularly those who are foreign-born, apply parenting practices for their young children that are less supportive of PA and more supportive of TV viewing, and their children have lower PA and higher TV viewing time, compared with their WB counterparts.

Background Despite the established link between social support and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, few studies have examined racial/ethnic variation in these associations. This study utilized data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to investigate racial/ethnic differences in perceived social support and in the link between support and incident hard CVD events and mortality. Method Participants ( N  = 6,814) were 45–84 years of age who identified as White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Chinese without known clinical CVD at baseline (2000–2002). Racial/ethnic differences in perceived support (overall, emotional, informational, and instrumental) were tested using multiple regression with adjustments for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle/psychosocial, and clinical risk factors, and immigration history. Racial/ethnic differences in the association between perceived support and incident CVD events or mortality were tested using Cox proportional hazards models with progressive adjustments for the same covariates. Results At baseline, the mean age was 62.15 years (SD = 10.23); 38.5% identified as White, 27.8% as Black, 22.0% as Hispanic/Latino, and 11.8% as Chinese. Black and Hispanic/Latino participants reported higher levels of overall support, emotional support, and informational support than White participants ( p ’s < 0.05). Chinese participants reported less informational support ( p  = .010) than White participants. Higher informational support was associated with decreased risk for hard CVD events. This association did not differ by race/ethnic group. Conclusion Despite racial/ethnic differences in perceptions of support, perceived informational support was protective against CVD for participants of all racial/ethnic backgrounds.

We sought to report the distribution of Lp(a) levels in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis among South Asians Living in America cohort of participants who were free from clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) at baseline and to evaluate the cross-sectional association with atherosclerosis measured by coronary artery calcification (CAC) and carotid intima media thickness. Among 886 participants (mean [SD] age: 55.4 [9.4] years, 54% male), median lipoprotein (a) level was 17 (9, 33) mg/dl. Compared with the lowest quartile (9 mg/dl), subjects in the highest Lp(a) quartile (33 to 178 mg/dl) were more likely to be women (51% vs 37%, p <0.01) and had a higher mean (SD) total cholesterol (193 [37] mg/dl vs 181 [35] mg/dl, p <0.01). CAC was present in 42% and both the presence and degree of CAC was similar across Lp(a) quartiles (p = 0.58). Median Interquartile range (IQR) common and internal carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) thicknesses were 0.84 (0.73, 0.98) mm and 1.12 (0.95, 1.34) mm, respectively, and were also similar across Lp(a) quartiles. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, Lp(a) quartile had no association with prevalent CAC (p = 0.98), internal carotid IMT (p = 0.46), or common carotid IMT (p = 0.97). Among South Asian Americans, mean Lp(a) levels were higher than previous reports among Whites, Hispanic/Latino, and Chinese-Americans but lower than in Blacks. Unlike findings from other race/ethnic groups, Lp(a) levels were not associated with atherosclerosis among South Asian Americans.

We examined whether abuse in childhood and/or adolescence was associated with shorter telomere length in a pooled analysis of 3,232 participants from five diverse cohorts. We also assessed whether religion or spirituality (R/S) could buffer deleterious effects of abuse. Physical and sexual abuse in childhood (age <12) and adolescence (age 12-18) was assessed using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale and questions from a 1995 Gallup survey. We measured relative leukocyte telomere lengths (RTL) using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. We used generalized estimating equations to assess associations of physical and sexual abuse with log-transformed RTL z-scores. Analyses were conducted in each cohort, overall, and stratified by extent of religiosity or spirituality and religious coping in adulthood. We pooled study-specific estimates using random-effects models and assessed between-study heterogeneity. Compared to no abuse, severe sexual abuse was associated with lower RTL z-scores, in childhood: -15.6%, 95% CI: -25.9, -4.9; p-trend = 0.04; p-heterogeneity = 0.58 and in adolescence: -16.5%, 95% CI: -28.1, -3.0; p-trend = 0.08; p-heterogeneity = 0.68. Sexual abuse experienced in both childhood and adolescence was associated with 11.3% lower RTL z-scores after adjustment for childhood and demographic covariates (95% CI: -20.5%, -2.0%; p-trend = 0.03; p-heterogeneity = 0.62). There was no evidence of effect modification by R/S. Physical abuse was not associated with telomere length. Sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence was associated with a marker of accelerated biological aging, decreased telomere length. The lack of moderation by R/S may be due to inability to capture the appropriate time period for those beliefs and practices.

OBJECTIVE:--The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Hispanic and Asian Americans is increasing. These groups are largely comprised of immigrants who may be undergoing behavioral and lifestyle changes associated with development of diabetes. We studied the association between acculturation and diabetes in a population sample of 708 Mexican-origin Hispanics, 547 non-Mexican-origin Hispanics, and 737 Chinese participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose >=126 mg/dl and/or use of antidiabetic medications. An acculturation score was calculated for all participants using nativity, years living in the U.S., and language spoken at home. The score ranged from 0 to 5 (0 = least acculturated and 5 = most acculturated). Relative risk regression was used to estimate the association between acculturation and diabetes. RESULTS:--For non-Mexican-origin Hispanics, the prevalence of diabetes was positively associated with acculturation score, after adjustment for sociodemographics. The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher among the most acculturated versus the least acculturated non-Mexican-origin Hispanics (prevalence ratio 2.49 [95% CI 1.14-5.44]); the higher the acculturation score is, the higher the prevalence of diabetes (P for trend 0.059). This relationship between acculturation and diabetes was partly attenuated after adjustment for BMI or diet. Diabetes prevalence was not related to acculturation among Chinese or Mexican-origin Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS:--Among non-Mexican-origin Hispanics in MESA, greater acculturation is associated with higher diabetes prevalence. The relation is at least partly mediated by BMI and diet. Acculturation is a factor that should be considered when predictors of diabetes in racial/ethnic groups are examined.

The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model was adapted for hypertension education of community health extension workers in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, and delivered as a 7-part series. This study aims to evaluate implementation outcomes of the hypertension ECHO series mapped to the first 3 levels of the Kirkpatrick model. Outcomes included reach, appropriateness (level 1), effectiveness (level 2), and penetration (level 3). From August 2022 to April 2023, 7 hypertension ECHO sessions were delivered via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) to a health care worker audience including targeted community health extension workers at 12 primary health centers (PHCs) in the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program. Health care workers provided demographic information, engaged in pre- and postsession knowledge quizzes, and shared feedback during live sessions. Surveys were sent to health care workers at 12 PHCs approximately 1 month after each session to ask about the use of the presented material and focus group discussions were performed with these health care workers after the ECHO program concluded. Qualitative and quantitative results were evaluated using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design wherein qualitative data were used to help explain outcomes and variability among participants. Across 7 ECHO sessions, a total of 1407 live participants were documented. Participants largely found the program was acceptable, with more than 97% of respondents reporting that the session was useful. Postsession knowledge scores increased (range: 2.3%-10.5%) relative to presession scores demonstrating moderate effectiveness. Among 12 PHCs, most (more than 70%) health care workers applied information learned in each session to provide patient care. In 6 focus group discussions, with 31 health care workers (n=15; 48% community health extension workers), participants reported that network connectivity and clinical demands were barriers to live participation and expressed preferences for blended training and asynchronous resources. Results show that a hypertension ECHO program adapted for community health extension workers effectively increased knowledge among participants and was useful to a majority. Insights gained may inform the scaling of remote hypertension education programs for community health extension workers in similar settings. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04158154; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04158154.

New approaches are needed to lower blood pressure (BP) given persistently low control rates. QUARTET USA sought to evaluate the effect of four-drug, quarter-dose BP lowering combination in patients with hypertension. QUARTET USA was a randomized (1:1), double-blinded trial conducted in federally qualified health centers among adults with hypertension. Participants received either a quadpill of candesartan 2 mg, amlodipine 1.25 mg, indapamide 0.625 mg, and bisoprolol 2.5 mg or candesartan 8 mg for 12 weeks. If BP was >130/>80 mm Hg at 6 weeks in either arm, then participants received open label add-on amlodipine 5 mg. The primary outcome was mean change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 12 weeks, controlling for baseline BP. Secondary outcomes included mean change in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and safety included serious adverse events, relevant adverse drug effects, and electrolyte abnormalities. Among 62 participants randomized between August 2019-May 2022 ( n  = 32 intervention, n  = 30 control), mean (SD) age was 52 (11.5) years, 45% were female, 73% identified as Hispanic, and 18% identified as Black. Baseline mean (SD) SBP was 138.1 (11.2) mmHg, and baseline mean (SD) DBP was 84.3 (10.5) mmHg. In a modified intention-to-treat analysis, there was no significant difference in SBP (−4.8 mm Hg [95% CI: −10.8, 1.3, p  = 0.123] and a −4.9 mmHg (95% CI: −8.6, −1.3, p  = 0.009) greater mean DBP change in the intervention arm compared with the control arm at 12 weeks. Adverse events did not differ significantly between arms. The quadpill had a similar SBP and greater DBP lowering effect compared with candesartan 8 mg. Trial registration number: NCT03640312.

Background The Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program was implemented across 60 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Nigeria to improve hypertension treatment and control using the World Health Organization’s HEARTS package. This study reports the program’s implementation outcomes. Methods The Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program used a type 2 hybrid interrupted time series design, and data were collected from January 2020 to December 2023. The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework guided the evaluation, focusing on key metrics such as patients’ and clinics’ characteristics, prescription rate of fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs, medication availability, and retention. Results Among 21,922 patients recruited (mean [SD] age = 49 [12], 68.1% female) from 60 primary healthcare centers (78.3% rural). Prescription of FDC increased from 16.3 (95% CI: 4.8%—27.8%) to 65.2% (95% CI: 64.0%—66.3%). The program distributed 336,116 30-day medication supplies, and nearly all (95%) PHCs had at least one 30-day supply of any BP-lowering medication in stock after the drug revolving fund implemented. The patient retention rate at 6 months increased between the pre-implementation to implementation periods from 59.9% to 63.1%. Conclusions The Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program successfully integrated hypertension services into Nigerian primary healthcare centers. Future efforts should focus on sustaining and scaling up the program’s success. Trial Registration The trial has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT04158154.

IntroductionTo optimise hypertension care cascade, the multilevel Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria (HTN) Program, adapted from the WHO HEARTS package, was implemented within 60 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, from January 2020 to December 2023.MethodsWe conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, guided by the RE-AIM QuEST (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance - Qualitative Evaluation for Systematic Translation) framework, to examine the factors influencing reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, acceptability and maintenance of the program. We conducted 13 focus group discussions in a subset of PHCs with patients (n=17), community health workers (n=35), pharmacy technicians (n=18) and PHC directors (n=5). Eighteen sites were purposively selected based on facility performance, targeting sites in the top and bottom 12% of blood pressure (BP) control at the end of the HTN Program. Qualitative data were coded, and subthemes were generated using directed content analysis.ResultsProgram reach was facilitated by community education, peer influence and decentralisation of hypertension services. Patients perceived the program to be effective, citing successful BP control, fewer medication side effects and support for improving health behaviours. Adoption and fidelity were supported through training and supportive supervision strategies. Multiple outcomes, including reach, acceptability and maintenance, were facilitated by improved affordability of BP-lowering medication through a drug revolving fund scheme which led to minimal stockouts, although medication affordability remained a challenge for some patients. Health workers and directors identified needs for program sustainment, including maintaining their motivation and commitment, strengthening the medication supply chain and advocating for the inclusion of BP-lowering medications in the national health insurance scheme.ConclusionOur findings provide an understanding of the implementation strategies and program components that led to effective implementation of a primary care-based hypertension control program in Nigeria. These insights can support sustainment and nationwide scaling up of the program and inform similar programs in other low-income and middle-income countries.

Background Nigeria faces an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), leading to an estimated 29% of all deaths in the country. Nigeria has an estimated hypertension prevalence ranging from 25 to 40% of her adult population. Despite this high burden, awareness (14–30%), treatment (< 20%), and control (9%) rates of hypertension are low in Nigeria. Against this backdrop, we sought to perform capacity and readiness assessments of public Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) to inform Nigeria’s system-level hypertension control program’s implementation and adaptation strategies. Methods The study employed a multi-stage sampling to select 60 from the 243 PHCs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO) Service Availability and Readiness Assessment was adapted to focus on hypertension diagnosis and treatment and was administered to PHC staff from May 2019 – October 2019. Indicator scores for general and cardiovascular service readiness were calculated based on the proportion of sites with available amenities, equipment, diagnostic tests, and medications. Results Median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of full-time staff was 5 (3–8), and were predominantly community health extension workers (median = 3 [IQR 2–5]). Few sites ( n  = 8; 15%) received cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management training within the previous 2 years, though most had sufficient capacity for screening ( n  = 58; 97%), diagnosis ( n  = 56; 93%), and confirmation ( n  = 50; 83%) of hypertension. Few PHCs had guidelines ( n  = 7; 13%), treatment algorithms ( n  = 3; 5%), or information materials ( n  = 1; 2%) for hypertension. Most sites ( n  = 55; 92%) had one or more functional blood pressure apparatus. All sites relied on paper records, and few had a functional computer ( n  = 10; 17%) or access to internet ( n  = 5; 8%). Despite inclusion on Nigeria’s essential medicines list, 35 (59%) PHCs had zero 30-day treatment regimens of any blood pressure-lowering medications in stock. Conclusions This first systematic assessment of capacity and readiness for a system-level hypertension control program within the FCT of Nigeria demonstrated implementation feasibility based on the workforce, equipment, and paper-based information systems, but a critical need for essential medicine supply strengthening, health-worker training, and protocols for hypertension treatment and control in Nigeria.