The relationship between perceived discrimination and coronary artery obstruction. Am Heart J 2012 Apr;163(4):677-83
Date
04/24/2012Pubmed ID
22520534DOI
10.1016/j.ahj.2012.01.006Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84860160776 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 25 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic stressors such as perceived discrimination might underlie race disparities in cardiovascular disease. This study focused on the relationship between perceived discrimination and risk of severe coronary obstruction while also accounting for multiple psychosocial variables and clinical factors.
METHODS: Data from 793 (629 white and 164 black) male veterans with positive nuclear imaging studies were analyzed. Participants were categorized as being at low/moderate or high risk for severe coronary obstruction based on results of their nuclear imaging studies. Hierarchical logistic regression models were tested separately for blacks and whites. The first step of the models included clinical factors. The second step included the psychosocial variables of optimism, religiosity, negative affect, and social support. The final step included perceived discrimination.
RESULTS: Perceived discrimination was positively related to risk of severe obstruction among blacks but not among whites after controlling for clinical and psychosocial variables. Similar results were found in patients who underwent coronary angiography (n = 311).
CONCLUSIONS: Perceived discrimination was associated with risk of severe coronary obstruction among black male veterans and could be an important target for future interventions.
Author List
Ayotte BJ, Hausmann LR, Whittle J, Kressin NRAuthor
Jeffrey Whittle MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Coronary Occlusion
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Prejudice
Social Support
Stress, Psychological
United States
Veterans
Young Adult
