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Prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors among rural blacks: a community-based study
J P Willems1, J T Saunders, D E Hunt
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
Insights
Coronary heart disease risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are alarmingly high in rural Black populations in Virginia. Innovative interventions are crucial to reduce these prevalent risk factors and improve cardiovascular health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death among Black individuals, with a widening mortality gap compared to White populations.
- Higher prevalence of CHD risk factors in Black communities contributes to this disparity.
- This study investigated CHD risk factor prevalence in a rural Black population in Virginia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of key coronary heart disease risk factors within a population-based sample of 403 rural Black adults in Virginia.
- To identify specific risk factors that are particularly elevated in this demographic compared to national or other Black population data.
Main Methods:
- Community-based screening evaluations were conducted.
- Data collected included exercise and smoking habits, blood pressure, height, weight, total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of smoking, high cholesterol, and sedentary lifestyles were comparable to other Black populations.
- However, prevalences of diabetes (13.6% men, 15.6% women), hypertension (30.9% men, 43.1% women), and obesity (38.7% men, 64.7% women) were higher than previously reported.
- Elevated body mass index was significantly associated with increased hypertension, diabetes, and low HDL cholesterol.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in this rural Black population necessitates urgent attention.
- Innovative public health strategies and interventions are required to effectively reduce these elevated cardiovascular risk factors.
- Targeted interventions are essential to mitigate the growing disparity in CHD mortality.
Background:
Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the most common cause of death among blacks, and the difference in CHD mortality between blacks and whites is growing. This trend may be due in part to higher rates of CHD risk factors among blacks. This study was done to determine the prevalence of CHD risk factors among a population-based sample of 403 rural blacks in Virginia.
Methods:
Community-based screening evaluations included the determination of exercise and smoking habits, blood pressure, height, weight, total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin.
Results:
The prevalences of smoking (32.5% of men, 20.0% of women), high cholesterol (16.6% of men, 18.9% of women) and sedentary lifestyle (37.5% of men, 66.7% of women) were similar to prevalences reported for other black populations. However, the prevalences of diabetes (13.6% of men, 15.6% of women), hypertension (30.9% of men, 43.1% of women), and obesity (38.7% of men, 64.7% of women) were higher than those reported elsewhere. Increased body mass index was significantly associated with higher prevalences of hypertension, diabetes, and low HDL cholesterol.
Conclusions:
Innovative methods are needed to decrease the high risk factor prevalences among this population.