Assessment of global coronary heart disease risk in overweight and obese African-American women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine, with the use of national guidelines, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk with increasing BMI for primary prevention in urban African-American women.


METHODS
Participants were recruited for CHD risk factor screening from 20 churches as part of a larger study of nutrition and fitness (Project Joy). All participants had a demographic, smoking and medical history assessment, and the following measurements were taken: weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid levels, and glucose. Three methods of defining risk, the Framingham Point Scoring System, a count of risk factors, and the presence of the multiple metabolic syndrome, based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Report and BMI classes established by the Clinical Guidelines, were used.


RESULTS
A total of 396 women were eligible. Participants were 40 to 80 years of age and had marked excess prevalence of overweight and obesity (84%); 55% were obese. There was a linear increase in risk factors as BMI increased. Lipids did not differ significantly among BMI classifications. Seventeen percent of women had multiple metabolic syndrome. Eight percent and 16% of women in the normal and overweight BMI classes, respectively, had two or more modifiable risk factors. There was no difference in number of modifiable risk factors among the obese classes. The Framingham Point Scoring System assigned a <10% risk of a hard CHD event in 10 years to 97% of the women.


CONCLUSIONS
National risk assessment guidelines for primary prevention of CHD may not be adequate for overweight and obese urban African-American women and require further study.
Center for Health Promotion, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. mpatt@jhmi.edu
Madhavi R
MR
Patt
Lisa R
LR
Yanek
Taryn F
TF
Moy
Diane M
DM
Becker
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D015142:Baltimore; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol