DIFFERENCES IN CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE RISK-FACTORS IN BLACK-AND-WHITEYOUNG-ADULTS - COMPARISONS AMONG 5 COMMUNITIES OF THE CARDIA AND THE BOGALUSA HEART STUDIES

PURPOSE: To examine community differences in cardiovascular disease (C VD) risk factors among black and white young adults by combining data from two large epidemiologic studies. METHODS: Data are from participa nts aged 20-31 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (CARDIA) study (1987-1988; N = 4129) and the Bogalusa Heart stu dy (1988-1991; N = 1884), adjusting for data collection differences pr ior to analysis. CARDIA includes four urban sites; Birmingham, Alabama ; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oakland, California. Bogalusa is a semi-rural town in Southeastern Louisiana. CVD risk fact ors examined were smoking status, body habitus, and blood pressure. RE SULTS: In Birmingham and Bogalusa, more white than black women were cu rrent smokers; no ethnic differences were observed among men. In Chica go, Minneapolis, and Oakland, more blacks were current smokers than we re whites. For all sites, educational level was strongly inversely rel ated to current smoking status; ethnic differences were more apparent among those with up to a high school education. Among white men and wo men, prevalence of obesity (body mass index > 31.1 kg/m(2) in men and 32.3 kg/m(2) in women) was greater in Birmingham and Bogalusa than in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland. Mean systolic blood pressures were highest in Bogalusa, and the proportion of black men with elevated blo od pressure (greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg) was higher in Bogal usa and Birmingham. CONCLUSIONS: Community and ethnic differences in C VD risk factors were observed among young adults in two large epidemio logic studies. Further studies may enhance our understanding of the re lationship of geographic differences in CVD risk to subsequent disease . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.