Vitamin D Deficiency, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Diseases in Post-Menopausal African American Women: The Jackson Heart Study

Author

Michelle Alexander

Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Public Health

Committee Chair

Xinhua Yu

Committee Member

Meredith Ray

Committee Member

Fawaz Mzayek

Committee Member

Mario Sims

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a primary health burden in the population that affects all ethnic groups. Hypertension is also a condition that is very prevalent in the population and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease is hypertension. African Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease as well as higher mortality rates compared to other ethnicities. Vitamin D deficiency affects all populations and research has shown it to be a risk factor for both hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In this study we examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular diseases, and the association vitamin D deficiency has on hypertension and blood pressure control in African American women. The study population consists of African American women enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study who are over the age of 40, free of cardiovascular disease, and have gone through the menopause transition. The reason for selecting this population is because African American women have the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease and the highest mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and are often not the focus of research studies. In this study the association between vitamin D deficiency and incident CVD was examined and our findings indicated that in African American women who are vitamin D deficient have increased odds of developing cardiovascular diseases and decreased vitamin D levels is associated with insufficient blood pressure control in African American women. Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, vitamin D deficiency

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Embargoed until 07-16-2025

Recommended Citation

Alexander, Michelle, "Vitamin D Deficiency, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Diseases in Post-Menopausal African American Women: The Jackson Heart Study" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3596.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3596