| Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of death in females in the United States of America. Dietary intake, lack of physical activity, hypertension, low socio-economic status, and obesity are all independent risk factors believed to be associated with this disease. In view of the higher CHD mortality rate in blacks compared with whites, a study was carried out to compare risk factors for CHD in black and white adult females. The sample was made up of 691 white and 367 black participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, all of whom had complete data for the variables of interest. All data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS-X) version 10 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois 1999) computerized program. Significant differences between means were set at the p ≤ 0.05 level. Student's t-tests were used to compare risk factors (diet, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure levels, physical activity, lipid profile, individual history of chronic disease, family history of chronic disease, and smoking) of the two racial groups divided into the following age categories: 18–29, 30–41, 42–53, 54–65, and 66–77 years. Duncan multiple range test was used to examine the relationship between income and the lipid profile. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to develop prediction equations for the lipid profile. Partial correlation was used to examine the relationship between educational level and the lipid profile. Results indicate that sodium intakes were significantly higher in black women than in white women aged 18–29 and significantly higher in white women than in black women aged 66–77 years. Cholesterol and saturated fat intakes were significantly higher in blacks aged 18–29 and whites aged 54–65, respectively (p < 0.05). Serum triglyceride levels were significantly higher in whites aged 54–65 and 66–77 years. Body mass index was significantly higher in blacks of all age groups; while waist-to-hip ratio was significantly higher in those aged 18–29, 30–41, and 54–65 years. Systolic blood pressure levels were significantly higher in blacks aged 42–53 and 54–65 years. Diastolic blood pressure level was significantly higher in black women aged 42–53 years. Individuals who engaged in physical activity had lower levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and higher levels of HDL-C. Participants with a history of chronic disease had higher levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and lower levels of HDL-C. Persons with a history of chronic disease had higher levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and lower levels of HDL-C. Persons with a lower income had higher levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and lower levels of HDL-C. Individuals who smoked had higher levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and lower levels of HDL-C. A positive relationship between educational level and serum HDL-C were observed in white women. Results from the multiple regression analysis indicated that the coefficient of determination, R2 was 0.475 for black women and 0.514 for white women. It was concluded that although blacks were at higher risk for CHD based on diet, blood pressure levels, and anthropometric measurements, whites were at higher risk based on their higher serum triglyceride levels and saturated fat intakes. |
