Assessing Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Disease in U.S. Family Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: Analysis of Data from the 2015–2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Abstract

The current study examined racial and ethnic differences in psychological, behavioral, and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD conditions among family caregivers (FCGs) of persons with dementia. We used the 2015–2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. The sample included a total of 6,132 FCGs of persons with dementia. Compared to non-Hispanic White FCGs, non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Asian FCGs were less likely to have depression. The Other racial/ethnic FCG group was more likely to currently smoke. Non-Hispanic Black FCGs were less likely to have exercised, more likely to be obese, and more likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes. No differences in CVD conditions (e.g., angina/coronary heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction) were detected between racial/ethnic minority FCGs and non-Hispanic White FCGs. Future studies should investigate relationships between racial/ethnic minority–specific caregiving and CVD by including a larger, racially and ethnically diverse population of FCGs. [ Research in Gerontological Nursing, 16 (5), 241–249.]