Exposure to stressors and perceived stress might contribute to health disparities, including racial disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD), via elevations in systemic inflammation. Heightened vigilance, the increased alertness to environmental cues in anticipation to threat (eg, threats related to discrimination), has previously been linked to markers of CVD risk among African Americans. However, the link between vigilance and inflammation remains underexplored in this population.
Method:
Data were taken from the Health among Older Adults Living in Detroit project. Vigilance was assessed using the abbreviated (4-item) Heightened Vigilance Scale, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 were assessed from venous blood samples. A subsample of participants (n=187) who had usable inflammatory marker data were included in the analyses. Unadjusted associations among vigilance, CRP, and IL-6 were examined with Pearson correlations. Linear regression was then used to test whether vigilance was associated with CRP and IL-6, accounting for relevant covariates.
Results:
Greater vigilance was associated with higher CRP in both unadjusted [r (95% CI)=0.23 (0.07, 0.37), p=0.006] and adjusted [B (95% CI)=0.11 (0.02, 0.20), p=0.015] analyses. No relationship between vigilance and IL-6 was observed.
Conclusion:
Heightened vigilance may contribute to increased inflammation among African Americans, with potentially negative health consequences.