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Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Key Demographic Variables Among Mid-South Church Leaders from 2012 to 2017

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Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors were examined among church leaders (n = 2309) who attended Mid-South United Methodist Church annual meetings between 2012 and 2017 using repeated cross-sectional data. There was a significant increase in body mass index (BMI) (b = 0.24, p = 0.001) and significant decreases in blood pressure (systolic: b = − 1.08, p < 0.001; diastolic: b = − 0.41, p = 0.002), total cholesterol (b = − 1.76, p = 0.001), and blood sugar (b = − 1.78, p = 0.001) over time. Compared to Whites, a significant increase was seen in BMI (b = 1.14, p = 0.008) among participants who self-identified as “Other,” and a significant increase was seen in blood pressure (systolic: b = 1.36, p = 0.010; diastolic: b = 1.01, p = 0.004) among African Americans over time. Results indicate BMI and blood pressure are important CVD risk factors to monitor and address among church leaders, especially among race/ethnic minority church leaders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA

    Emily Rose N. San Diego, Nikhil A. Ahuja & Brook E. Harmon

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Brandi M. Johnson & Cardella L. Leak

  3. Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA

    George Relyea

  4. Mission Integration Division, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, TN, USA

    Jonathan C. Lewis & Niels French

  5. Department of Nutrition and Healthcare Management, Appalachian State University, 1179 State Farm Rd, Leon Levine Hall Room 575, Boone, NC, 28607, USA

    Brook E. Harmon

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  1. Emily Rose N. San Diego
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  2. Nikhil A. Ahuja
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Correspondence to Brook E. Harmon.

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All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with ethical standards of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and the University of Memphis Institutional Review Boards, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Health fair forms were deemed medical records in this study. Medical records were reviewed by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center IRB. Assent to have medical records reviewed for research purposes was provided by all individual participants included in the study.

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San Diego, E.R.N., Ahuja, N.A., Johnson, B.M. et al. Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Key Demographic Variables Among Mid-South Church Leaders from 2012 to 2017. J Relig Health 60, 1125–1140 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01135-z

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