Cardiovascular risk factor prevalence in African-American adult screenees for a church-based cholesterol education program: the Northeast Oklahoma City Cholesterol Education Program.
The status of selected cardiovascular risk factors was ascertained in a consecutive sample of 661 (222 men and 439 women) African-American adults who were screened for the Northeast Oklahoma City Cholesterol Education Program, a church-based cholesterol intervention program. Hypertension was present in 48.4% and 44.7% of men and women, respectively. Average systolic blood pressure levels were similar in men and women (132.0 vs 131.5 mm Hg, P = 0.40) although average diastolic blood pressure levels were higher in men (84.0 vs 81.1 mm Hg; P < .0001). A substantial proportion of the screenees were unaware of their hypertension, and blood pressure normalization (SBP < 140 and DBP < 90 mm Hg) was uncommon in drug-treated hypertensives. Average cholesterol levels were slightly higher in women compared to men (206.0 vs 199.6 mg/dL, P = 0.11). The majority of persons with elevated cholesterol levels (> or = 240 mg/dL) were unaware of their condition and were infrequently treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs. Overweight was highly prevalent, was more common with advancing age, and was related to the presence of hypertension in both men and women. In addition, a strong linear relation between overweight and blood pressure was present in both sexes. Overweight was more common in young men (< 35 years old) compared to age-matched women; however, women were increasingly more overweight than men after 35-44 years of age. In fact, by age 65, 90% of the women were overweight. These data indicate an excessive prevalence and high mean levels of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in these church-attending African-American adults. Because churches are a central institution in most African-American communities, and their congregations appear to have an excessive cardiovascular disease risk factor burden, churches may be appropriate sites for the implementation of community-based risk factor control programs.
Flack
J M
JM
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Wiist
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention