title: Cardiovascular health among two ethnic groups living in the same region: A population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor cardiovascular health (CVH) among ethnic/racial minorities, studied primarily in the USA, may reflect lower access to healthcare. We examined factors associated with minority CVH in a setting of universal access to healthcare.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CVH behaviors and factors were evaluated in a random population sample (551 Arabs, 553 Jews) stratified by sex, ethnicity and age. More Jews (10%) than Arabs (3%) had 3 ideal health behaviors. Only one participant had all four. Although ideal diet was rare (≤1.5%) across groups, Arabs were more likely to meet intake recommendations for whole grains, but less likely to meet intake recommendations for fruits/vegetables and fish. Arabs had lower odds of attaining ideal levels for body mass index and physical activity. Smoking prevalence was 57% among Arab men and 6% among Arab women. Having four ideal health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, smoking) was observed in 2% and 8% of Arab and Jewish men, respectively, and 13% of Arab and Jewish women. Higher prevalence of ideal total-cholesterol corresponded to lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among Arabs. No participant met ideal levels for all 7 metrics and only 1.8% presented with 6. Accounting for age and lower socioeconomic status, Arabs were less likely to meet a greater number of metric goals (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.62 (0.42-0.92) for men, and 0.73 (0.48-1.12) for women).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ideal CVH, rare altogether, was less prevalent among the Arab minority albeit universal access to healthcare. Health behaviors were the main contributors to the CVH disparity.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: bender@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benderly
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chetrit
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Havi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abu-Saad
authors.affiliation: Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, National Center for Childhood Diabetes, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillon-Keren
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Soraski Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rogowski
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Institute of Chemical Pathology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Ben-Ami
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Institute of Endocrinology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanety
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Bert W. Strassburger Lipid Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harats
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Shomron Administration, Hadera, Israel.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atamna
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Shomron Administration, Hadera, Israel.
authors.forename: Gershon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Goldbourt
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ofra
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kalter-Leibovici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D054525:Minority Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Cardiovascular disease prevention; Epidemiology; Ethnicity; Risk factors