Marilyn A. Winkleby|Helena C. Kraemer|David K. Ahn|Ann Varady
Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Stanford University|Stanford University|Stanford University|Stanford University
contextcardiovascular disease cvd risk factors higher among ethnic minority women among white women united stateshowever ethnic minority women disproportionately poor socioeconomic status ses may substantially explain risk factor differencesobjectivetodetermine whether differences cvd risk factors ethnicity could attributed differences sesdesignthirdnational health nutrition examination survey conducted 1988 1994settingeightynine mobile examination centersparticipantsa total 1762 black 1481 mexican american 2023 white women aged 25 64 years completed home questionnaire medical examinationmain outcome measuresethnicityand years education ses relation systolic blood pressure cigarette smoking body mass index bmi measure weight kilograms divided square height meters physical inactivity nonhighdensity lipoprotein cholesterol nonhdlc difference total cholesterol hdlc noninsulindependent diabetes mellitusresultsas expected cvd risk factors higher among ethnic minority women among white womenafter adjusting years education highly significant differences blood pressure bmi physical inactivity diabetes remained black mexican american women compared white women p001in addition women lower ses 3 ethnic groups significantly higher prevalences smoking physical inactivity higher levels bmi nonhdlc women higher ses p001conclusionsthesefindings provide greatest evidence date higher cvd risk factors among black mexican american women among white women comparable sesthe striking differences ethnicity ses underscore critical need improve screening early detection treatment cvdrelated conditions black mexican american women well women lower ses ethnic groups