Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Latina women

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for Latina women in the United States. Nevertheless, the literature available about the risk factors for cardiovascular disease is inconsistent and hampered by issues related to race and ethnic identification and the exclusion of Latina women from major population-based studies. Compared with white women, Latina women have more of the major and contributing factors for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, diabetes, overweight/obesity and physical inactivity. This article presents an overview of the literature on cardiovascular disease in Latina women. Literature on mortality, as well as key risk factors (hypertension, cigarette smoking, elevated serum lipids, overweight and obesity, diabetes mellitus and physical inactivity) are reviewed. Issues related to the sociocultural environment of Latina women are also discussed. The article concludes with the implications for clinical practice and further nursing research. The information provided in this article may help nurse clinicians, educators and researchers design and implement nursing interventions that can promote heart health and prevent cardiovascular disease in Latina women.