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June 11, 2026Women s Health ReportsOpen Access

Hazardous alcohol use affects ~46% of women Veterans alongside high traditional cardiovascular risk burden.

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Why the study?

Women Veterans face elevated cardiovascular disease risk from traditional and nontraditional factors, compounded by racial and ethnic disparities, prompting a need to describe their CVD prevalence, risk factors, and health behaviors.

Population

380 women Veterans receiving care at a VA Medical Center in California

Design

Cross-sectional survey

Key result

Among women Veterans, common self-reported cardiovascular risk factors included hyperlipidemia (38%), obesity (36%), and hypertension (33%), alongside hazardous alcohol use (45.5%).

Authors

CDCaroline DancuUniversity of California, San FranciscoLPLinda G. ParkUnity Health SystemJCJenny K. CohenUniversity of California, San Francisco

Discussion

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Overview

Maps CVD risks in women Veterans; hypothesis-generating for interventions, requires prospective validation before practice change.

Key Points

  • This study aims to characterize the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors among women Veterans.
  • Cross-sectional survey distributed to 1,909 women Veterans at a VA Medical Center in California
  • Participants self-reported health behaviors, cardiovascular diagnoses, and risk factors
  • Approved by university and VA IRBs.
  • 38% reported hyperlipidemia as a common cardiovascular risk factor
  • 58% of respondents were non-Hispanic White, with significant prevalence of depression (8.7) and PTSD (2.9)
  • Nearly 70% of women aged 18-44 had at least one CVD risk factor.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=380)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P
Population
380 women Veterans (mean age 53) receiving care at a California VA Medical Center surveyed for cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors.
O
Outcome
Self-reported health behaviors, CVD diagnoses, and risk factorspatient reported

Women Veterans exhibit a high prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, hazardous alcohol use, and mental health conditions, highlighting the need for targeted lifestyle and mental health interventions.

Limitations

  • Self-reported health behaviors, CVD diagnoses, and risk factors
  • Low response rate (20%)

Cite This Study

Dancu et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease risk factors (n=380). Cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors was evaluated on Prevalence of CVD risk factors. Among women Veterans, common self-reported cardiovascular risk factors included hyperlipidemia (38%), obesity (36%), and hypertension (33%), alongside hazardous alcohol use (45.5%).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2a51d780c8f91e7f39e063https://doi.org/10.1177/26884844261444547
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