Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Arab Americans Living in Metropolitan Washington,DC

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profiles of Arab Americans may differ from those of the majority ethnic groups in the United States on which clinical practice guidelines are based. Reasons for these differences include genetic homogeneity and both cultural and lifestyle factors that influence CVD risk. Therefore, appropriate therapeutic targets for effective CVD prevention in Arab Americans need to be designed. However, research on Arab American health is sparse. For the cross-sectional survey described in this article, a convenience sample of Arab Americans living in Washington, DC; Virginia; and Maryland was recruited. Arab Americans in our sample had a higher prevalence of high cholesterol and lower prevalence of diabetes and hypertension than the general population of the United States. High levels of smoking and a lack of physical activity were also reported. Most participants (71%) reported a score of 15 and below on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, indicating no signs of clinical depression. Predictors of depression were compared in those born inside and outside the United States. With the results from this survey, we have designed a cross-sectional study to begin in early 2010 to determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors in Arab Americans which can be compared with the overall population of the United States.