Loneliness, Cardiovascular Disease, and Diabetes Prevalence in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

The relationship between loneliness and both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has been understudied in U.S. Hispanics, a group at high risk for DM. We examined whether loneliness was associated with CVD and DM, and whether age, sex, marital status, and years in U.S moderated these associations. Participants were 5,313 adults (M (SD) age = 42.39 (15.01)) enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Loneliness was assessed via the 3-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Level of reported loneliness was low. Loneliness was significantly associated with CVD: OR 1.10 (CI 1.01-1.20) and DM: OR 1.08 (CI 1.00-1.16) after adjusting for depression, demographics, body mass index, and smoking status. Age, sex, marital status, and years in U.S. did not moderate associations. Given that increased loneliness is associated with higher cardiometabolic disease prevalence beyond depressive symptoms, regardless of age, sex, marital status, or years in the U.S., Hispanic adults experiencing high levels of loneliness may be a subgroup at particularly elevated risk for CVD and DM.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among US Hispanic/Latino Youth: The SOL Youth Study.

PURPOSE: Physical activity and sedentary behavior among diverse Hispanic/Latino youth in the United States is not well documented. The aim of this study was to describe physical activity and sedentary behavior among a representative sample of Hispanic/Latino youth from four US communities using accelerometry and self-reported measures. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, 1466 Hispanic/Latino youth ages 8 to 16 yr, children of participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, enrolled in the SOL youth. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed by interview. After this, youth wore an Actical accelerometer for 1 wk. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex survey design and used sampling weights. RESULTS: The accelerometer wear time adjusted mean minutes per day was: 604.6, sedentary; 178.9, light; 25.4, moderate; and 10.2, vigorous. Generally, higher levels of moderate and vigorous activity occurred among males, Mexican backgrounds, and youth age 8 to 10 yr compared with older age groups. Higher levels of sedentary behavior occurred among youth age 15 to 16 yr compared with younger age groups. The most common activities (reported, ≥1 per month) were of lower intensity, including listening to music (91.9%), homework (87.0%), riding in car/bus (84.3%), and hanging out with friends (83.4%). Common active pursuits included travel by walking (74.6%), physical education class (71.7%), running (71.4%), and recess (71.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Time, intensity, and type of physical activity and sedentary behavior varied among Hispanic/Latino youth. These findings can inform efforts to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among US Hispanic/Latino youth.