title: Psychosocial and reported inflammatory disease correlates of self-reported heart disease in women from South of Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Past and recent research suggests that psychological and biological factors may increase women's risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study examined the prevalence and correlates of self-reported heart disease among Jewish women from the Negev, a socio-economically and culturally unique region in south of Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design was used. We interviewed over the phone 526 randomly-selected women (mean age: 44.3+/-14.2 years) about background variables (e.g., education), biomedical risk factors (e.g., body mass index or BMI), self-reported inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis or RA, urinary infections), psychosocial factors (depression, hopelessness, self-esteem, social-support) and self-rated health and heart disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior physician diagnosis of heart disease was reported by 8.2% of women. Age, economic difficulties, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, physical exercise, RA and urinary infections were significantly associated with reported heart disease. Of all psychosocial factors considered, hopelessness and self-esteem significantly distinguished heart disease cases from non-cases. In a multiple logistic regression, poor self-esteem, RA and hypertension were significant independent correlates of self-reported heart disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pending replication with objective measures of heart disease and a prospective design, poor self-esteem and RA may prove to be new CHD risk factors in women.
authors: Ben-Gurion University, Israel. Y.Gidron@uvt.nl
authors: Yori
authors: Y
authors: Gidron
authors: Amalia
authors: A
authors: Levy
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Cwikel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016387:Women's Health