Abstract P094: Awareness Of Cardiovascular Disease Is Low Among Young Women And Varies By Region

Abstract

Background: Prior research has shown that awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors is low among young women. The present study used preliminary data to compare the awareness of CVD in young women seen in primary care clinics in the Northeastern and Southeastern United States. Methods: We recruited 370 females ages 15-24 years from two primary care clinics located in Boston, MA (n=331) and Atlanta, GA (n=39). Recruitment in Atlanta, GA is ongoing. Participants completed a modified version of the AHA Women’s Health Survey. We examined the relationship between location and 1) knowledge about CVD and 2) engagement in preventive behaviors, while controlling for race/ethnicity, age group, and primary caregiver education. Results: Sixty-two percent (n=23) of young women in Atlanta reported feeling informed about CVD, while 53% (n=163) of young women in Boston reported feeling informed about CVD. Only 13% (n=34) of participants in Boston and 6% (n=2) of participants in Atlanta correctly identified CVD as the leading cause of death for women. Participants in Atlanta were less likely to report engagement in CVD preventive behaviors such as exercising (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.91), maintaining a healthy cholesterol (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.50) or blood pressure level (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.74), and reducing sugar in their diet (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.91). Moreover, young women in Atlanta were more than twice as likely to report having never discussed CVD-related health topics such as family history of CVD, blood pressure, and cholesterol with their health care provider (OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 0.86, 7.02). Conclusion: CVD awareness is low among young women and varies by region. Despite living in a region where CVD is highly prevalent, young women in Atlanta were less likely to engage in preventive behaviors and less likely to discuss CVD-related topics with their health care provider. In this region where cardiovascular health disparities are common, opportunities remain to promote heart healthy behavior among young women to reduce CVD risk.