Although a relatively smaller percentage of Hispanic women (29%) have CVD, they develop the disease a full decade before white women, according to a 2007 study by University of Rochester researchers, presented at the American Heart Association's 47th annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention.
Both black and Hispanic women have higher incidences of several important CVD risk factors.
- Hypertension: Black women have hypertension at a rate of nearly 47%, whereas 31% of Hispanic women and 22% of all women have it; 32% of Hispanic women have pre-hypertension compared with 19% of white women.
- Obesity: Nearly 80% of black and more than 70% of Hispanic women are overweight or obese, contrasted with 50% of white women. Being overweight -- especially if the fat is distributed around the abdomen -- can lead to heart disease by elevating blood pressure and cholesterol levels and causing diabetes.
- Inactivity: Although 26% of all women are sedentary, 40% of Hispanic and 34% of black females are inactive, a condition that keeps weight and cholesterol elevated and contributes to diabetes.
- Diabetes: African-American women are twice as likely to have diabetes as white women.
- Metabolic Syndrome: Hispanic women develop metabolic syndrome (a cluster of risk factors for heart disease and diabetes) at a slightly higher rate.
Smoking seems to be an area in which Hispanic women are better off. Eleven percent of Hispanic women smoke, while 17% of all women do.
More Risks, Less Treatment
Although 40% of white women consider themselves knowledgeable about heart disease, only 33% of Hispanic women think they're well informed, according to the American Heart Association. African-American women, who are the most at risk for heart disease, often lack an understanding that diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, a family history and being overweight are significant risk factors.
Minority women are also less likely to reduce their risks or to seek treatment for CVD. But according to the September 2008 issue of Medical Care, a disparity in their ability to manage care was explained by socioeconomic factors and the greater severity of their disease.
Losing weight, exercising, lowering cholesterol, quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol are ways all women can help prevent CVD.
Here's more on heart disease in women, and more about identifying and treating cardiac risk factors.
Sources:
"Arkansas 100 Women With Heart." americanheart.org. 2008. American Heart Association. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3059033>.
Blustein, Jan, et al. "Race/Ethnicity and Patient Confidence to Self-Manage Cardiovascular Disease." Medical Care 46:9(2008): 924-9. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.lww-medicalcare.com/pt/re/medcare/abstract.00005650-200809000-00006.htm;jsessionid=JSXVk724hVk1Js24glLpKDLHqWy9brrp6nhy1FhnlZHysYHshTGG!-1157023329!181195628!8091!-1>.
"Cardiovascular Disease in African American Women." americanheart.org. 2008. American Heart Association. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/120274881392306-0282A_AfAmHispNwslttr_LR.pdf>.
"Diabetes." 4woman.gov. Dec. 2007. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.4woman.gov/minority/africanamerican/diabetes.cfm>.
"Diabetes." 4woman.gov. Dec. 2007. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 10 Nov. 2008 < http://www.4woman.gov/minority/hispanicamerican/diabetes.cfm>."Health Status of African American Women ." omhrc.gov. 23 Nov. 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3723>.
"High Blood Pressure Worsening in All States for Women; Begins to Stagnate for Men." americanheart.org. 11 Feb. 2008. American Heart Association. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053702>.
"Hispanic Women at Higher Risk for Heart Disease." americanheart.org. 2 Mar. 2007. American Heart Association. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3045794>.
Hispanic Women Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics." americanheart.org. 2006. American Heart Association. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1138743762385hispanic%20hd%20%20s.doc>.
"Is Fear of Gaining Weight Keeping many Women from Trying to Quit Smoking?" psych.med.umich. 5 Nov. 2007. University of Michigan. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.psych.med.umich.edu/newsroom/smoking.asp>.
"Key Statistics." americanheart.org. 2008. American Heart Association. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3041646>.
Mosca, Lori, et al. "Tracking Women's Awareness of Heart Disease." Circulation 109 (2004): 573-9. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/109/5/573>.
"Overweight and Obesity." cdc.gov. 24 Apr. 2006. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 31 Oct. 2008. <http://www.cdc.gov/women/natstat/overwght.htm>.
