Cardiovascular disease in the Amish: an exploratory study of knowledge, beliefs, and health care practices.

The Old Order Amish population is growing, yet little is known about their cardiovascular health care practices. This ethnographic study explored their cardiovascular knowledge, beliefs, and health care practices. This study showed that the Amish have distinct beliefs and practices which affect their cardiovascular health, and that culturally appropriate education is needed.

An integrative review of the current knowledge of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors in the Old Order Amish.

Purpose: To review the uniqueness of the Amish culture and evaluate the published research on cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors in the Amish.

Method: A computerized database search from January 1999 to January 2009 was conducted using the search terms Amish and cardiovascular.

Results: The majority of published research is based on the Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; is genetically based; and did not make recommendations for health care practices in the Amish.