Abstract P141: Six-Month Follow-Up of Menopausia, Salud, Corazón (Menopause, Health, Heart): A Multi-Component Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Midlife Latinas

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk increases substantially during perimenopause. Latinas have a significantly worse CVD risk factor profile than non-Latina White women, potentially due to multiple sociocultural and environmental factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of a multi-component intervention to reduce CVD risk in perimenopausal Latinas. Here we report data at a 6-month follow-up. Methods: This is a randomized two-group, repeated measures experimental study. Forty-nine perimenopausal Latinas (age 40-60 years) were randomized to a 6-month multi-component intervention or wait-list control. The intervention consists of 12-weekly culturally tailored Spanish language-based sessions (education, physical activity, stress management, coping skills training), followed by 3 months of continued support, and 6 months of skill maintenance on their own. Between May 2021 and June 2022, thirty-five participants (18 intervention and 17 control) completed a 6-month follow-up. Primary outcomes at this study visit included weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included health behaviors and psychological factors (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, self-efficacy, perceived stress). We assessed the initial efficacy of the intervention at 6 months using general linear models for continuous outcomes and logistic regression for categorical outcomes. Models adjusted for outcome measures at baseline and baseline group differences (health insurance, vasomotor symptoms). Models were two-sided at a level of significance of p≤0.1. Results: At baseline, the mean age was 47.8 ± 4.4 years, 37% had less than high school education, 97% were born outside of the United States, and 51% reported it was somewhat/very difficult to pay for basics. Women in the intervention group were more likely to have health insurance (61% vs 24%, p=0.06) and less likely to report any vasomotor symptoms (44% vs 77%, p=0.09). At 6 months (post-intervention), compared to the waitlist control group, the intervention group had lower perceived stress (ß[SE]= -2.15 [1.05], p=0.05) and systolic blood pressure (ß[SE]= -2.72 [1.61], p=0.1) even after adjusting for baseline measures and group differences. There were no other significant differences post-intervention. Conclusions: This pilot study found that a culturally tailored Spanish language intervention consisting of nutrition education, physical activity, and stress management may be effective in reducing stress and blood pressure in perimenopausal Latinas —key risk factors for CVD.