Racial/Ethnic and Age Differences in Women's Awareness of Heart Disease

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in awareness of heart disease among women according to race/ethnicity by age group, adjusted for confounders. Methods: American Heart Association (AHA) National Surveys conducted in 2006 (n = 1005) and 2009 (n = 1142) were pooled using common variables (n = 2147) and reweighted to reflect the 2010 United States Census. Surveys comprised standardized, interviewer-assisted demographic and awareness questions. Associations between racial/ethnic group and heart disease awareness stratified by age were assessed by weighted chi-square statistics; logistic regression was used for multivariable adjustment. Results: Black and Hispanic women were 66% less likely than white women to be aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women (odds ratio [OR] 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.50) after multivariable adjustment for significant confounders. The percent aware among white women was 65%; awareness did not differ between black and Hispanic women (37% vs. 38%). Other significant multivariable predictors included < high school education (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22-0.62) and income <$35,000/year (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.41-0.77). Younger women (age < 55 years) were less likely to be aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.87) and were less likely to report being very well/well informed about heart disease (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.41-0.68) compared to older women (age >= 55 years). Awareness of heart attack signs, such as shortness of breath (34%), nausea (15%), and fatigue (7%), was low among all women. Conclusions: Racial/ethnic minority status and age < 55 years were significant risk factors for lower heart disease awareness among women, suggesting these groups should be targeted for educational programs. Awareness of heart attack signs was low among all subgroups of women.