The Association between Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge and Risk Factors among African American Breast Cancer Survivors in the Deep South

Authors

Michelle S. Williams, George Mason UniversityFollow
Chizoba Anyimukwu, Jackson State University

Keywords

Breast Cancer Survivor, African American Women, Cardiovascular Disease, Health Disparities, Deep South

Disciplines

Cardiovascular Diseases | Other Public Health | Women's Health

Abstract

Purpose: African American breast cancer survivors in the Deep South have a disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Multiple potentially modifiable CVD risk factors are highly prevalent in this population, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and poor dietary habits. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between CVD health metrics and heart disease knowledge among the target population.

Methods: The Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ knowledge of heart disease and heart disease risk factors. Questions from My Life Check were used to assess the participants cardiovascular health metrics. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine which cardiovascular health metrics and demographic characteristics could predict the participants’ heart disease knowledge score.

Results: Seventy African American breast cancer survivors living in the Deep South enrolled in the study. The participants’ mean age was 56.76 years (± 10.36) and 42.9% had a college degree or higher level of education. A multivariate regression analysis showed that the number of healthy diet score components was the only cardiovascular health metric that was statistically significantly associated with heart disease knowledge score (p = .01). Education level was the only demographic characteristic that was statistically significantly associated with heart disease knowledge score (p = .004).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that participants with more knowledge of heart disease and higher levels of education are more likely to have better cardiovascular health metrics. Our findings underscore the need to implement CVD risk reduction interventions targeted towards African American breast cancer survivors in the Deep South.

Recommended Citation

Williams, Michelle S. and Anyimukwu, Chizoba (2020) "The Association between Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge and Risk Factors among African American Breast Cancer Survivors in the Deep South," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 13: Iss. 4, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol13/iss4/7