title: Cardiovascular disease risk factor clustering among African American adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the co-occurrence of multiple risk factors increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity/mortality, few studies have examined the prevalence of risk factor clustering among African Americans in community-based faith settings. This study examined the prevalence and clustering of CVD risk factors in a sample of church members from South Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a faith-based intervention, Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN).
  
  
  METHODS
  African Methodist Episcopal churches in four geographically-defined districts in South Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  1119 church members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported presence or absence of healthcare provider diagnosed diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Objectively measured blood pressure, height, and weight (body mass index) were also taken. The prevalence of single, multiple, and clustering of risk factors was computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  62% of participants were obese, 64% had hypertension, 23% had diabetes, and 39% had high cholesterol; 15% had no risk factors, 24% had 1 risk factor, 30% had 2 risk factors, 22% had 3 risk factors, and 10% had 4 risk factors. The most common clusters of risk factors were: obese and hypertensive (18%), obese, hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic (13%), and obese, hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic, and diabetic (10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of risk factors and risk factor clustering in church members in South Carolina is exceedingly high. Culturally-relevant behavioral interventions targeting risk factor reduction in this population should be a public health goal.
authors: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA. stritesk@mailbox.sc.edu
authors: Meghan
authors: M
authors: Baruth
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Wilcox
authors: Brent M
authors: BM
authors: Egan
authors: Marsha
authors: M
authors: Dowda
authors: Marilyn
authors: M
authors: Laken
authors: Tatiana Y
authors: TY
authors: Warren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D033303:Protestantism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina