Racial/Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Symptoms in Four Major Racial/Ethnic Groups of Midlife Women: A Secondary Analysis

• Published in: Women & health 2015-07, Vol.55 (5), p.525-547
• Main Authors: Im, Eun-Ok, Ham, Ok Kyung, Chee, Eunice, Chee, Wonshik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adult; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data; Attitude to Health - ethnology; Cardiovascular Diseases - ethnology; cardiovascular symptoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cultural Characteristics; Cultural differences; Data analysis; Data processing; Demographics; Ethnic factors; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Fear & phobias; Female; Females; Health; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health problems; Health Status; Health Status Disparities; Health Surveys; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Internet; Knowledge; Menopause - ethnology; Middle Aged; midlife women; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority groups; Poisson density functions; race; Racial differences; Regression Analysis; Secondary analysis; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors; Statistical analysis; Statistical inference; Surveys and Questionnaires; Symptoms; Teenagers; United States - epidemiology; Women's Health - ethnology
• ISSN: 0363-0242; 1541-0331
• DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2015.1022813

Ethnic minority midlife women frequently do not recognize cardiovascular symptoms that they experience during the menopausal transition. Racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular symptoms are postulated as a plausible reason for their lack of knowledge and recognition of the symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore racial/ethnic differences in midlife women's cardiovascular symptoms and to determine the factors related to these symptoms in each racial/ethnic group. This was a secondary analysis of the data from a larger study among 466 participants, collected from 2006 to 2011. The instruments included questions on background characteristics, health and menopausal status, and the Cardiovascular Symptom Index for Midlife Women. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics, including Poisson regression and logistic regression analyses. Significant racial/ethnic differences were observed in the total numbers and total severity scores of cardiovascular symptoms (p < .01). Non-Hispanic Asians had significantly lower total numbers and total severity scores compared to other racial/ethnic groups (p < .05). The demographic and health factors associated with cardiovascular symptoms were somewhat different in each racial/ethnic group. Further studies are needed about possible reasons for the racial/ethnic differences and the factors associated with cardiovascular symptoms in each racial/ethnic group.