The study showed that there was a significant prospective association between LS7 score and incident PAD in African Americans, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites. Although the association was not statistically significant for the Chinese Americans in MESA, this was likely because of the low number of incident PAD cases (only 18) in this group, according to the authors.
Analysis by individual LS7 components showed that more optimal levels of smoking, physical activity, glucose, and blood pressure were significantly associated with lower rates of incident PAD. Similarly, after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, and baseline ABI, more optimal levels of smoking, and glucose were significantly associated with lower odds of decline. These results for the decline in ABI did not appear to differ across race/ethnicity, according to Dr. Unkart and his colleagues.
In contrast, BMI, diet, and cholesterol were not associated with incident PAD or decline in ABI.
“Higher scores on the AHA LS7 were associated with lower incident PAD and less decline in ABI. Preventive measures targeting LS7 components could assist with reducing PAD-related morbidity and mortality,” the researchers concluded.
The work was supported by the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Dr. Unkart and his colleagues reported that they had no disclosures.
SOURCE: Unkart JT et al. Am J Prev Med 2019;56:262-270.