Heart disease risk factor prevalence and profiles in a randomized community sample of Canadian women

This study examined the prevalence and profiles of behavioural and biomedic al risk factors of heart disease in a randomized community sample of 843 Ca nadian women. Sociodemographic characteristics were also examined to determ ine their association with women who have multiple primary risk factors ver sus risk factor-free women. A greater proportion of high-risk women (n=81) reported to have less education, lower income and employment levels and wer e more likely to live without a partner than women with no primary risk fac tors (n=135). These findings contribute to the understanding of the growing complexity of addressing heart heath beyond lifestyle behaviours as articu lated by the Victoria (1992), Catelonia (1995), Singapore (1998) and Women' s International (2000) Declarations on Heart Health. Public health planning should continue to address physical activity, smoking and dietary behaviou rs across age groups with a concentrated effort to target high-risk, socioe conomically disadvantaged women. Risk assessment for heart disease must als o include sociodemographic characteristics for tailoring heart health progr ams in the community