Key result
Black women Veterans were significantly more likely to report a diagnosis of diabetes (OR 2.58), hypertension (OR 2.31), and obesity (OR 2.06) compared to White women Veterans.
Cross-Sectional (n=3,611)
Odds Ratio: 2.58 (95% CI 1.07–6.21)
Absolute Event Rate: 15% vs 8%
p-value: p=<0.05
Among US women Veterans, significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in cardiovascular risk factors, with Black women facing consistently higher risks for diabetes, hypertension, and obesity compared to White women.
May warrant attention to CV risk screening in Black women Veterans; leaves open causal factors and outcome impact in prospective studies.
BACKGROUND: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, accounting for 24.5 % of all deaths among women. Earlier research has demonstrated racial/ethnic differences in prevalence of cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To empirically examine the prevalence of CVD risk factors among a national sample of women Veterans by race/ethnicity, providing the first portrait of women Veterans' cardiovascular care needs. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional, national population-based telephone survey of 3,611 women Veterans. MEASUREMENTS: Women Veterans were queried about presence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, tobacco use and physical activity. Four racial/ethnic categories were created: Hispanic, Non-Hispanic White (White), Non-Hispanic Black (Black), and Other. Logistic regressions were conducted for each risk factor to test for racial/ethnic differences, controlling for age (under 40 vs. 40 and over). KEY RESULTS: Racial/ethnic differences in CVD risk factors persisted after adjusting for age. Black women Veterans were more likely to report a diagnosis of diabetes (OR: 2.58, 95 % CI: 1.07, 6.21) or hypertension (OR: 2.31, 95 % CI: 1.10, 4.83) and be obese (OR: 2.06, 95 % CI: 1.05, 3.91) than White women Veterans. Hispanic women Veterans were more likely than White women Veterans to report diabetes (OR: 4.20, 95 % CI: 1.15, 15.39) and daily smoking (OR: 3.38, 95 % CI: 1.01, 11.30), but less likely to report a hypertension diagnosis (OR 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.64) or to be obese (OR: 0.39, 95 % CI: 0.18, 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Among women Veterans, CVD risks vary by race/ethnicity. Black women Veterans consistently face higher CVD risk compared to White women Veterans, while results are mixed for Hispanic women Veterans.
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Rose et al. (2013) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular risk factors (n=3,611). Non-Hispanic Black race vs. Non-Hispanic White race was evaluated on Self-reported diagnosis of diabetes (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.07, 6.21, p=<0.05). Black women Veterans were significantly more likely to report a diagnosis of diabetes (OR 2.58), hypertension (OR 2.31), and obesity (OR 2.06) compared to White women Veterans.
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