Risk Factors and Racial Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Progression

Although studies have documented earlier onset of cardiovascular diseases and hospitalization for African American populations compared to white populations, little is known about the underlying mechanisms at younger ages that could be associated with the progression of cardiovascular risk. This research uniquely studies the progression of CVD risk and possible influences for both African American and white populations. To do this, a longitudinal analysis was conducted to investigate risk factors, such as health behaviors and socioeconomic status. Implications for improving cardiovascular disease outcomes through patient education were also explored.;This investigation of potential risk factors and racial differences in long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes used a prospective cohort with twenty years of follow-up from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) project. Cardiovascular diseases were assessed by clinical measures and medical history. The richness of this longitudinal data set is unique. It contains patient demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, access to healthcare, health behaviors, health services utilization, and medication use. Each of these was identified as potential risk factors based on Andersen's model of health care utilization behaviors (1995). Descriptive analysis and longitudinal data analysis were used to explore the progression of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors.;This study seeks to improve current understanding of potential risk factors in white and African American young adults who developed cardiovascular diseases in their middle age or older. The results provide researchers, policy makers and health care providers with preliminary findings which may help inform potential preventive screening and intervention opportunities in young adults to avoid or delay cardiovascular disease development.