Reducing cardiovascular risk in women with lupus: perception of risk and predictors of risk-reducing behaviors.

Background: Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) display a 7- to 10-fold increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with non-SLE controls, yet many are unaware of this risk despite years spent in the healthcare system. It is not clear why they lack awareness of increased CVD risk or which factors influence awareness.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess in women with SLE their perceived CVD risk, the association between clinically identified and perceived CVD risk factors, and factors that influenced CVD risk awareness and adoption of risk-reducing behaviors.

Biologic measures as epidemiological indicators of risk for the development of hypertension in an African American adolescent population.

Unlabelled: Globally, the health disparity of hypertension is disproportionately greater within the African American population and develops at an earlier age. Elevated and continuous interaction of biologic measures during adolescence may be precursors and indicators of risk for blood pressure changes and the subsequent development of adult essential hypertension. The purpose of this study was to describe (1) the prevalence of biologic measures of risk of hypertension, specifically family history of hypertension, prehypertension, elevated salivary cortisol, and hyperresponsive cortisol and cardiovascular reactivity, and (2) the gender difference in the prevalence of biologic risk factors of hypertension.

Efficacy of a school-based cardiac health promotion intervention program for African-American adolescents.

Objective: African-American adolescents are twice as likely to develop hypertension in early adulthood than adolescents from other racial groups. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a school-based health promotion intervention.

Method: Participants were African-American adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years attending an urban high school.

The association of low birth weight and physiological risk factors of hypertension in African American adolescents.

Unlabelled: Low birth weight (LBW) has been associated with increased blood pressure and the development of cardiovascular disease including hypertension. Elevated blood pressure, cortisol, and hyperresponsiveness during physiologic stress may function as hypertension biological markers. We examined the association of blood pressure and cortisol levels during induced physiologic stress with LBW in an African American adolescent population (n = 106).

Prevalence of behavioral and physiological risk factors of hypertension in African American adolescents.

Unlabelled: African American (AA) adolescents are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure in early adulthood as other groups. Continuous existence of risk factors in adolescents may be precursors to adult cardiovascular changes. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of AA adolescents.

The relationship of blood pressure and cortisol reactivity to family history of hypertension of African American adolescents.

Unlabelled: Ethnicity and family history of hypertension (FHH) have been associated with the development of hypertension. Blood pressure and cortisol reactivity during physiologic stress are hypothesized to function as biologic markers for hypertension. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of blood pressure and cortisol reactivity physiologic to FHH in a selected sample of African American adolescents.