Psychosocial and reported inflammatory disease correlates of self-reported heart disease in women from South of Israel.
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.
Gidron
Yori
Y
Ben-Gurion University, Israel. Y.Gidron@uvt.nl
Levy
Amalia
A
Cwikel
Julie
J
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