Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally. African American (AA) females experience a disproportionately higher burden of CVD risk factors compared to other racial and gender-ethnic groups. This disparity in CVD risk is particularly pronounced among premenopausal and middle-aged AA females. While CVD is primarily preventable, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and achieving equitable health requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing CVD risk and health behaviors.
This descriptive correlational study employed a secondary data analysis using the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) dataset to examine the relationships among CVD awareness, modifiable risk factor awareness, clinician cues to action, and preventative lifestyle behaviors among middle-aged AA women (n = 962, ages 35-64 years) and the role of education as a moderator of CVD risk factors and healthy lifestyle behavior. Preventative lifestyle behaviors were defined either as healthy lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and BMI <30) or lifestyle behavior modification (increasing exercise, reducing fat/calories, participating in a weight loss program). Logistic regression analyses simultaneously controlled for SDOH: food/economic stability, social support, healthcare access, neighborhood, and education. The sub-analysis explored relationships between favorable SDOH and physical activity and between clinician cues to action and lifestyle behavior modification for obese and non-physically active females.
Results revealed significant relationships between CVD awareness, CVD modifiable risk factor awareness, clinician cues to action, and the adoption of preventative lifestyle behaviors but failed to observe a significant moderating effect of education on the relationship between CVD risk factor awareness and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Favorable SDOH were associated with active engagement in physical activity.
This study underscores the complex relationship of factors influencing CVD preventative behaviors and demonstrates that awareness of CVD and risk factors alone may not be sufficient to promote behavior change. The critical role of clinician influence to promote lifestyle behavior modifications among this high-risk population is highlighted. Together, these findings suggest the need for tailored interventions addressing individual and social factors to improve CVD outcomes in AA middle-aged females.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Eta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Primary Care, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Clinical Practice, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Cardiovascular Disease, CVD, African American Women, CVD Awareness, Risk Factors, CVD Prevention
Recommended Citation
Henderson, Kimberly Ann, "Cardiovascular Awareness, Risk Factors Awareness, and Select Risk Reduction Interventions" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 219.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/219
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-08
Cardiovascular Awareness, Risk Factors Awareness, and Select Risk Reduction Interventions
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally. African American (AA) females experience a disproportionately higher burden of CVD risk factors compared to other racial and gender-ethnic groups. This disparity in CVD risk is particularly pronounced among premenopausal and middle-aged AA females. While CVD is primarily preventable, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and achieving equitable health requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing CVD risk and health behaviors.
This descriptive correlational study employed a secondary data analysis using the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) dataset to examine the relationships among CVD awareness, modifiable risk factor awareness, clinician cues to action, and preventative lifestyle behaviors among middle-aged AA women (n = 962, ages 35-64 years) and the role of education as a moderator of CVD risk factors and healthy lifestyle behavior. Preventative lifestyle behaviors were defined either as healthy lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and BMI <30) or lifestyle behavior modification (increasing exercise, reducing fat/calories, participating in a weight loss program). Logistic regression analyses simultaneously controlled for SDOH: food/economic stability, social support, healthcare access, neighborhood, and education. The sub-analysis explored relationships between favorable SDOH and physical activity and between clinician cues to action and lifestyle behavior modification for obese and non-physically active females.
Results revealed significant relationships between CVD awareness, CVD modifiable risk factor awareness, clinician cues to action, and the adoption of preventative lifestyle behaviors but failed to observe a significant moderating effect of education on the relationship between CVD risk factor awareness and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Favorable SDOH were associated with active engagement in physical activity.
This study underscores the complex relationship of factors influencing CVD preventative behaviors and demonstrates that awareness of CVD and risk factors alone may not be sufficient to promote behavior change. The critical role of clinician influence to promote lifestyle behavior modifications among this high-risk population is highlighted. Together, these findings suggest the need for tailored interventions addressing individual and social factors to improve CVD outcomes in AA middle-aged females.
Description
The research demonstrates the complex relationship between CVD and risk factor awareness, SDOH, and preventative lifestyle behaviors. While CVD awareness alone may not directly drive behavior change, the study identified its potential role in obesity prevention. The study demonstrated the importance of considering the broader context of SDOH, including education, social support, and economic stability, for making appropriate patient recommendations in health promotion efforts.