American Journal of Epidemiology Advance Access originally published online on October 12, 2006
American Journal of Epidemiology 2006 164(12):1171-1179; doi:10.1093/aje/kwj334
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ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Knowledge in Young Adults and 10-year Change in Risk Factors
The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study
1 Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
2 Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
Correspondence to Dr. Elizabeth Lynch, Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg Medical School, Northwestern University, 680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611-4402 (e-mail: bethlynch{at}northwestern.edu).
This study's objective was assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor knowledge in young adults, its association with 10-year changes in risk factor levels, and variables related to risk factor knowledge. A total of 4,193 healthy persons (55% female, 48% Black; mean age = 30 years) from four urban US communities were queried about risk factor knowledge in 1990–1991 and were reexamined in 2000–2001. Of six risk factors considered (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy diet), participants mentioned a mean of two; more than 65% were not aware of any risk factors, and less than 35% recognized being overweight as a risk factor. After adjustment, variables associated with mentioning more than two CVD risk factors versus one or fewer were Black race (OR = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44, 0.61), having a high school education or less (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.95), having one or two (vs. zero) risk factors (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.53), and having three or more (vs. zero) risk factors (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.35, 2.38). More knowledge was marginally associated with less increase in body mass index 10 years later (p = 0.06) but was unrelated to other risk factor changes. Knowledge of CVD risk factors was very low in these young adults but increased with the presence of risk factors. Knowledge alone did not predict 10-year changes in risk factors.
cardiovascular diseases; health knowledge, attitudes, practice; risk factors
Abbreviations: CARDIA, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults; CI, confidence interval; CVD, cardiovascular disease; NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; OR, odds ratio