Table 2.

Mean ± SD scores and % of cardiovascular health (CVH) status categories based on Life’s Essential 8 among 305 children aged 4–7 years in the Healthy Start pre-birth cohort.

	All children	Girls	Boys	P a
	n = 305	n = 136	n = 169
Behavioral factor scores
Nicotine exposure
Mean ± SD	97.4 ± 6.8	97.6 ± 6.6	97.3 ± 6.9	0.78
Min, Max	80, 100	80, 100	80, 100
Diet quality
Mean ± SD	47.6 ± 15.3	45.8 ± 14.5	49.1 ± 15.8	0.05
Min, Max	25, 100	25, 80	25, 100
Physical activity
Mean ± SD	34.3 ± 15.4	30.0 ± 11.0	37.8 ± 17.5	<0.0001
Min, Max	0, 80	25, 70	0, 80
Sleep duration
Mean ± SD	73.7 ± 34.0	74.2 ± 34.6	73.3 ± 33.6	0.81
Min, Max	0, 100	0, 100	0, 100
Biological factor scores
Body mass index				0.08
Mean ± SD	92.3 ± 22.3	94.8 ± 18.2	90.3 ± 25.0
Min, Max	0, 100	0, 100	0, 100
Blood pressure				0.11
Mean ± SD	99.8 ± 2.0	99.6 ± 3.0	100
Min, Max	75, 100	75, 100	100, 100
Non-HDL cholesterol				0.67
Mean ± SD	81.0 ± 23.2	81.6 ± 22.7	80.5 ± 23.7
Min, Max	0, 100	0, 100	20, 100
Fasting glucose				0.69
Mean ± SD	99.6 ± 4.0	99.7 ± 3.4	99.5 ± 4.3
Min, Max	60, 100	60, 100	60, 100
Overall CVH score b
Mean ± SD	78.2 ± 6.7	77.9 ± 6.4	78.5 ± 6.9	0.46
Min, Max	54.4, 93.8	54.4, 88.1	58.8, 93.8
CVH status				0.27
Low (score <50)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)
Moderate (score: 50-<80)	56.1% (171)	59.6% (81)	53.3% (90)
High (score: 80-<100)	43.9% (134)	40.4% (55)	46.8% (79)
Optimal (score = 100)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)

^aFrom a Wald test for continuous variables; from the Chi-squared test for % participants by CVH status.

^bAverage of score across the eight Life’s Essential 8 components: nicotine exposure, physical activity, healthy diet, sleep duration, body mass index, non-HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose.