title: Health behavior and perceptions among African American women with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of different risk factors (abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol) that predispose to the development of cardiovascular diseases. African American women (AAW) are easily predisposed to metabolic syndrome due to higher levels of insulin resistance. Various sociodemographic factors further contribute to higher prevalence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the current prevalence of metabolic syndrome in AAW and identifies the related sociodemographic risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study utilized 2007-11 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data sets from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The sample was divided into two groups: AAW with and without metabolic syndrome. Sociodemographic, physical examination, laboratory parameters, and health perceptions were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the available sample of 30,442 individuals, 1918 (6.4%) met the inclusion criteria (AAW, age>20, non-pregnant women). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 47%. Older age, lower education level, low socioeconomic status, unmarried status, low physical activity level, and smoking were associated with higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (p<0.001). The prevalence of borderline hypertension, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases was significantly higher in AAW with metabolic syndrome (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In spite of the focus on prevention of cardiovascular risk factors and elimination of ethnic and gender disparities, metabolic syndrome is still widely prevalent in AAW and poses a threat to the goals of Healthy People 2020.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo/Sisters of Charity Hospital - Catholic Health System, Buffalo, NY, USA; Srikrishna.Malayala@tuhs.temple.edu.
authors.forename: Srikrishna Varun
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Malayala
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo/Sisters of Charity Hospital - Catholic Health System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ambreen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
keywords: African American women; cardiovascular health; health education; heath disparities; risk factors