title: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Symptoms in Four Major Racial/Ethnic Groups of Midlife Women: A Secondary Analysis.
abstract: Ethnic minority midlife women frequently do not recognize cardiovascular symptoms that they experience during the menopausal transition. Racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular symptoms are postulated as a plausible reason for their lack of knowledge and recognition of the symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore racial/ethnic differences in midlife women's cardiovascular symptoms and to determine the factors related to these symptoms in each racial/ethnic group. This was a secondary analysis of the data from a larger study among 466 participants, collected from 2006 to 2011. The instruments included questions on background characteristics, health and menopausal status, and the Cardiovascular Symptom Index for Midlife Women. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics, including Poisson regression and logistic regression analyses. Significant racial/ethnic differences were observed in the total numbers and total severity scores of cardiovascular symptoms (p < .01). Non-Hispanic Asians had significantly lower total numbers and total severity scores compared to other racial/ethnic groups (p < .05). The demographic and health factors associated with cardiovascular symptoms were somewhat different in each racial/ethnic group. Further studies are needed about possible reasons for the racial/ethnic differences and the factors associated with cardiovascular symptoms in each racial/ethnic group.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Eun-Ok
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Ok Kyung
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Wonshik
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chee
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008593:Menopause / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*
keywords: cardiovascular symptoms; ethnicity; midlife women; race
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