Cardiovascular Risk in Midlife African American Women Participating in a Lifestyle Physical Activity Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects African American women, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality.
• Sedentary, urban, midlife African American women represent a population at high risk for CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a cohort of sedentary, urban, midlife African American women.
• To evaluate the awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional baseline data from 297 women in a physical activity clinical trial were analyzed.
• Key CVD risk factors including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, diabetes, and obesity were examined.
• Rates of awareness, treatment, and control for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were calculated.

Main Results:

• The study sample exhibited higher rates of hypertension and obesity compared to national averages for African American women.
• Adequate control of hypertension was achieved in fewer than 60% of women.
• Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol treatment and control rates were significantly lower than in national samples of African Americans.

Conclusions:

• This study highlights significant CVD risks in inactive, urban, midlife African American women.
• These women are receptive to physical activity interventions, indicating a need for targeted identification and management.
• Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions are crucial for mitigating CVD risk in this high-risk group.