Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Younger Black Women: Results from the 10,000 Women Community Screening Project

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors are prevalent in black women, but when these risk factors arise is not clear. We aimed to determine when obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia appear in black women within a community screening program.

Methods: 945 black women who enrolled in the 10,000 Women community screening project in the metro Atlanta area were included (2015-2018). Socioeconomic, lifestyle, and traditional CVD risk factor information was patient-reported and measured. Characteristics of three cohorts stratified by age, 20-39 years old (yo), 40-59 yo, and ≥60 yo, were compared using pairwise analysis.

Results: All cohorts had class 1 obesity. Mean systolic blood pressure was higher in older cohorts [20-39 yo: 122 ± 15; 40-59 yo: 133 ± 19; ≥60 yo: 142 ± 20 mmHg; p < 0.001]. All age groups had mean total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL and were lowest in women 20-39 yo, (p < 0.001). All age groups had mean LDL levels below 100 mg/dL and were highest in women 20-39 yo, (p < 0.01). All age groups had mean HDL levels greater than 50 mg/dL and were highest in women ≥60 yo, (p-value = 0.03). A higher proportion of ≥60 yo limited salt intake, (p ≤ 0.001), and ate fast food less than three times a week, (p < 0.001), compared to younger women.

Conclusion: We report that CVD risk factors, like elevated blood pressure and obesity, are prevalent at young ages in black women, which could be due to lifestyle practices. Earlier initiation of CVD preventive care in black women could be beneficial; however, this needs to be studied further.