Life’s Essential 8: Cardiovascular Health Assessment Among Brazilian University Workers

Abstract

Background:

The American Heart Association has introduced Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) for primary cardiovascular disease prevention. This study assessed cardiovascular health (CVH) using LE8 among Brazilian adult university workers and identified associated factors.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study with 532 faculty, research, and staff was conducted, collecting sociodemographic, clinical, and LE8 component data alongside additional variables—LDL-chol, triglycerides, insulin, and waist and hip circumferences. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including regression models, were performed.

Findings:

Most workers exhibited moderate CVH (59.6%). Younger and more educated workers had better CVH. Poor CVH correlated with higher waist and hip circumferences, insulin, LDL-chol, and triglycerides. Poisson regression revealed that increases in waist circumference, insulin, LDL-chol, and triglycerides decreased ideal CVH probability by 2.4%, 3.8%, 0.8%, and 0.5%, respectively. LE8 scores inversely correlated with additional variables except LDL-chol. The sample showed a low ideal CVH prevalence. Increased waist circumference, insulin, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides reduced ideal CVH probability.

Conclusions/Application to Practice:

The results showed a low prevalence of ideal CVH, highlighting critical areas that require specific interventions. For occupational health nursing, the findings reinforce the importance of systematic monitoring and health education actions, especially those focused on modifiable factors such as diet, physical activity, stress, and blood pressure control. The use of intervention mapping based on person-centered theories is recommended to support nurses in developing more effective programs for health promotion, risk screening, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the workplace, contributing to the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions.