Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Abstract
CARDIOVASCULAR disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, accounting for a half-million deaths and 2.5 million hospitalizations annually.1,2 These deaths are linked with the primary CVD risk factors: elevated blood pressure, cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, excess body weight, sedentary lifestyle, and diabetes, all of which are substantially influenced by behavioral, social, cultural, and economic factors.3-8