Ethnicity and Cardiovascular Disease

Africans Americans

Heart Disease Among Africans

• Studies have shown Africans are at higher risk for heart disease

• Many factors are attributed to higher rates of cardiovascular disease

http://www.ishib.org/ED/journal/17-1/ethn-17-01-143.pdf

Risk Factors

• Higher prevalence of hypertension when compared to a white population (two-fold higher)

• Significantly higher risk of diabetes

• African women have the highest prevalence of abdominal obesity

• Near top for limited leisure activity

http://www.ishib.org/ED/journal/17-1/ethn-17-01-143.pdf

Risk Factors

Now we know there is a higher risk in this ethnic group… but why?

• Researchers are not quite sure but say some reasons may be:– Genetic Factors– Environmental Factors– A Combination of Factors

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/suppl_1/S48.full.pdf+html

Cardiovascular Disease

• Coronary Heart Disease

• Stroke

• Peripheral Vascular Disease

Coronary Heart Disease

• Leading cause of death among Africans

• Among highest in the world

• There has been a decline since 1968

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2561855/

• Average age of incidence was 69 years of age compared to whites which was 75, hispanics were 63

• Incidence rates reflect cerebral infarction rates

Stroke

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/147/3/259.full.pdf+html

Peripheral Vascular Disease

• Black ethnicity considered independent risk factor

• Risk cannot be explained by excess diabetes, hypertension or CVD risk factors

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/17/2703.full.pdf+html

Screening and diagnostic tests

• Cholesterol screening

• Blood pressure screening

• Access other risk factors– Age– Sex– Heredity– Stress– BMI

http://ddsn.sc.gov/providers/manualsandguidelines/Documents/HealthCareGuidelines/CardiovascularScreening.pdf

Exercise Prescription

• Normal Prescription

• Emphasis on leisure time activity

• Cardiovascular exercise 3x/week

• Increase heart rate past 60% of HRR

• All major muscle groups worked at least twice per week

Exercise Prescription

• Emphasis on breathing to control blood pressure

• Stretch along with exercise to maintain flexibility and improve circulation