عنوان

Acculturation, Lifestyle Behaviors, and CVD Risk Factors among Arab Americans in Southern California

Number

TL51840

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Acculturation, Lifestyle Behaviors, and CVD Risk Factors among Arab Americans in Southern California

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Tarkhan, Mohammad M.

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

Dee, Vivien

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Azusa Pacific University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2019

Text of Note

146 p.

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

Azusa Pacific University

Text preceding or following the note

2019

Text of Note

Cardiovascular disease is a prominent cause of death in the United States, and it affects Arab Americans (AA) disproportionately when compared to other ethnic groups in the American population. Arab immigrants in the United States are at risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke because of their unhealthy lifestyles. AA are one of the fastest-growing minorities in the United States, and they tend to have a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation, lifestyle behaviors, and cardiovascular risk factors and to determine which of the socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors (e.g., physical activity, nutrition) are the strongest predictors of risk factors for CVD among Arab Americans in southern California. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by participants (N = 178) recruited from mosques, churches, and community centers located in southern California. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Multinomial logistical regression analysis was utilized to predict the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk factors among acculturation, lifestyle behaviors, and sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, using the Framingham Risk Assessment tool of Arab Americans aged 20 and older in southern California. Mean age of the participants was 45.34 (SD ± 13.76) years; 55.6% were males, 55% current smokers. Mean total cholesterol was 210.17 (SD ± 33.09), and mean HDL was 38.60 (SD ± 8.49). Mean BMI was 29.27 (SD ± 4.44) with 44.9% of participants in the obesity category (BMI > 30 kg/m2). The male participants' Waist Circumference (WC) mean was 42.39 (SD ± 6.35), and the female was 35.9 (SD ± 6.11). Mean systolic BP was 130.52 (SD ± 16.32), and diastolic BP was 76.62 (SD ± 10.30). In this sample, age (OR = 1.12, p ≤ 0.001, CI [1.05-1.18]), diet (OR = 0.79, p = 0.019, CI [0.65-0.96]), waist circumference (OR = 1.28, p ≤ 0.001, CI [1.13-1.46]), HDL (OR = 0.88, p = 0.028, CI [0.79-0.99]), and systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.083, p = 0.05, CI [1.03-1.13]) were important predictors of moderate and high risk of CVD compared to the low-risk group. AA with a moderate and high risk of cardiovascular risk factors, who are unemployed, retired, have a high BMI, and are physically inactive may need close monitoring of their risk factors. Future interventions to improve the health of AA should be designed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among AA. Interventions should encourage the development of strategies aimed at preventing the future evolution of cardiovascular risk factors among AA starting from the earliest ages.

Subject Term

Nursing

Subject Term

Public health

Tarkhan, Mohammad M.

Dee, Vivien

Azusa Pacific University

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y