LáShauntá M. Glover

Keywords polygenic risk population descriptors genetic ancestry genetic similarity race and ethnicity social determinants of health research ethics Introduction The health and wellbeing of human populations are influenced by myriad factors that may be broadly classified into intrinsic (e.g., genetic) and extrinsic (e.g., environmental) categories. The genetic underpinnings of complex traits are increasingly modeled using polygenic risk scores (PRSs).

What Is New? Social connectedness is associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease among Black adults, and health behaviors such as smoking may partially explain the association. Control of risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes did not mediate the association between social connectedness and heart disease. What Are the Clinical Implications? Increasing social connections may benefit women's risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.

RESEARCH ARTICLE Loretta Cain-Shields, Corresponding Author lcain@umc.edu orcid.org/0000-0003-2255-8067 Department of Data Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA Correspondence Loretta Cain-Shields, Department of Data Science, School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center 2500 N.