Cardiometabolic Health and Epigenetic Aging Across the Life Course Among Hispanic/Latino Immigrant Groups in the United States

PROJECT SUMMARY (ABSTRACT)
Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States (U.S.) carry a disproportionate burden of poor cardiometabolic
health outcomes, with higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia than non-Hispanic White
populations. However, the Hispanic/Latino population is diverse and has significant heterogeneity in
cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence and CVD risk by factors such as country of origin and
socioeconomic status (SES). Limited research has investigated how immigration status as a social stressor
contributes to cardiometabolic health and epigenetic aging among Hispanic/Latino populations. Immigrants in
general face greater threats to their health due to lower SES, limited English proficiency, and reduced health
care access and use. However, differences in CVD risk and epigenetic aging also exist by immigration status,
a social and economic stressor that dictates immigrants’ access to health-promoting services such as public
safety-net programs and affordable health care. We propose to use the California Health Interview Survey
(CHIS), a large, representative health survey of Californian residents that produces valid health estimates by
disaggregated Hispanic/Latino background. We then propose to use data from the Hispanic Community Health
Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) cohort study, where participants completed an extensive set of SES and
stress measures, provided blood samples assayed for DNA methylation age, and completed clinic visits for
objective cardiometabolic health measures. The overarching goal of this proposed research is to evaluate how
immigration status contributes to disparities in cardiometabolic health and accelerated epigenetic aging across
the life course among Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S. In Aim 1, we will use 2015-2021 CHIS data to
evaluate the associations between immigration status and CVD risk factors and disease among
Hispanic/Latino adults (N~32,000) and adolescents (N~2,000) in California. In Aim 2, we will use HCHS/SOL
Youth data (N=1,200) to estimate the associations between parental immigration status, accelerated
epigenetic aging, and objective cardiometabolic health measures among Hispanic/Latino adolescents. In Aim
3, we will use a sub-sample of HCHS/SOL adult data (N=1,000) to estimate the longitudinal associations
between immigration status, accelerated epigenetic aging, and objective cardiometabolic health measures
across two points over a 6-year period. Upon completion of these aims, we anticipate the impact of this work to
significantly advance our understanding of racial/ethnic disparities in CVD by evaluating differences in CVD
risk by immigration status, estimating the associations between immigration status, epigenetic aging, and
cardiometabolic health, and ultimately informing future cardiovascular public health interventions for
Hispanic/Latino populations. The planned research and training goals contained in this fellowship application
will develop my expertise in epigenetic and epidemiologic methods, will strengthen my professional career
development, and will ultimately foster my long-term goal of becoming an independent academic researcher.

Grant Number: 5F31HL172677-02
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Jasmine Aqua