Impact of Race and Ethnicity on CVD Risk Factors in Women
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- This scientific statement from the American Heart Association gives an overview of cardiovascular risk factors in women across different racial and ethnic groups. It also describes the impact of factors like behavioral and environmental issues, social determinants of health, language barriers, discrimination, acculturation, and healthcare access on cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management.
- This scientific statement evaluates the current evidence on racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular risk factors and preventive therapies for women in the US.
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract nowCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet differences exist among certain racial and ethnic groups. Aside from traditional risk factors, behavioral and environmental factors and social determinants of health affect cardiovascular health and risk in women. Language barriers, discrimination, acculturation, and health care access disproportionately affect women of underrepresented races and ethnicities. These factors result in a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and significant challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. Culturally sensitive, peer-led community and health care professional education is a necessary step in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Equitable access to evidence-based cardiovascular preventive health care should be available for all women regardless of race and ethnicity; however, these guidelines are not equally incorporated into clinical practice. This scientific statement reviews the current evidence on racial and ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factors and current cardiovascular preventive therapies for women in the United States.
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Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Women: The Impact of Race and Ethnicity: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Circulation 2023 Apr 10;[EPub Ahead of Print], LS Mehta, GP Velarde, J Lewey, G Sharma, RM Bond, A Navas-Acien, AM Fretts, GS Magwood, E Yang, RS Blumenthal, RM Brown, JH MieresFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The American Heart Association has released a scientific statement that addresses the impact of race and ethnicity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women. The report calls for an expanded approach to risk factors and primary prevention strategies for CVD among women of underrepresented races and ethnicities.
The statement highlights the unequal distribution of CVD burden across racial and ethnic groups. Women from minority backgrounds — such as African American, Hispanic, and Native American women — have higher rates of traditional cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and smoking than their White counterparts. These disparities are linked to social determinants of health such as structural racism, education, and access to healthcare. Psychosocial factors, such as depression and stress, along with nontraditional sex-specific risk factors, including pregnancy history, premature menopause, and inflammatory conditions, also disproportionately affect women from minority groups.
To reduce these disparities, the report recommends that cardiovascular risk assessment tools for women should consider both traditional and nontraditional sex-specific risk factors as well as social determinants of health. Culturally sensitive cardiovascular health and prevention strategies tailored to the specific needs of women from minority backgrounds are critical. These strategies include improving access to culturally tailored consultation and preventive services, education and awareness campaigns targeted to specific racial/ethnic groups, and addressing social and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes.
The report also highlights the need for inclusive research that considers women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to improve our understanding of CVD risk factors and develop targeted interventions that address the unique needs of these populations. Incorporating sex-specific and race-specific data in clinical trials and studies is essential to inform the development of evidence-based interventions that can improve cardiovascular health outcomes for women from all backgrounds.
Overall, the American Heart Association's scientific statement is a critical step towards addressing the inequalities in cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes among women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. It underscores the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses social determinants of health, promotes cultural sensitivity, and incorporates sex-specific and race-specific data in research and clinical practice. By implementing the recommendations outlined in this report, we can work towards reducing the burden of CVD in women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and ultimately improve the health and well-being of all women.