Abstract
Background:
This study assessed the validity of several self-reported cardiovascular risk factors among low-income women aged 40–64 years in West Virginia.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 733 women participating in the Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) project in West Virginia to examine agreement between self-report and clinical screenings in the prevalence of risk factors related to coronary heart disease (CHD). Women participating in the study were interviewed face-to-face before administration of clinical screenings that assessed height, weight, Quetelet's index, high blood pressure (systolic ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic ≥90 mm Hg), and elevated total cholesterol concentrations (≥200 mg/dL and ≥240 mg/dL).
Results:
The overall results showed high sensitivity and specificity for each of the risk factors examined; for overweight/obesity, the sensitivity was 96% and specificity was 93%; for cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL, sensitivity was 85% and specificity was 67%; for hypertension, sensitivity was 77% and specificity was 86%. Using a threshold value of ≥240 mg/dL for hypercholesterolemia led to higher sensitivity but a lower specificity than for a value of ≥200 mg/dL.
Conclusions:
This study found that among low-income women at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), self-reported values for high body mass index (BMI), hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension were well correlated with clinical measures, as indicated by high sensitivity values. Thus, self-reported values can be used for surveillance, targeted screenings, and health promotion activities, including lifestyle changes.
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