Heart disease risk factor prevalence and profiles in a randomized community sample of Canadian women.

This study examined the prevalence and profiles of behavioural and biomedical risk factors of heart disease in a randomized community sample of 843 Canadian women. Sociodemographic characteristics were also examined to determine their association with women who have multiple primary risk factors versus risk factor-free women. A greater proportion of high-risk women (n = 81) reported to have less education, lower income and employment levels and were more likely to live without a partner than women with no primary risk factors (n = 135). These findings contribute to the understanding of the growing complexity of addressing heart health beyond lifestyle behaviours as articulated by the Victoria (1992), Catelonia (1995), Singapore (1998) and Women's International (2000) Declarations on Heart Health. Public health planning should continue to address physical activity, smoking and dietary behaviours across age groups with a concentrated effort to target high-risk, socio-economically disadvantaged women. Risk assessment for heart disease must also include sociodemographic characteristics for tailoring heart health programs in the community.