OBJECTIVES: Although educational achievement is positively related to levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among White adults, there is an inverse association among Blacks. We assessed whether this interaction could be attributed to differences in the relation of education to correlates of HDL-C. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were based on data from 8391 White and 995 Black adults who participated in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: Associations between education and HDL-C levels varied from negative (Black men), to nearly nonexistent (White men and Black women), to positive (White women). Mean HDL-C levels were higher among Blacks than among Whites, but differences varied according to educational achievement. Among adults with less than 9 years of education, mean levels were 6 to 10 mg/dL higher among Blacks, but the radical difference was less than 1 mg/dL among adults with at least 16 years of education. About 20% to 40% of these differences could be accounted for by obesity, alcohol consumption, and other characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the implications for coronary heart disease risk, consideration should be given to behavioral characteristics associated with the interaction between race and educational achievement.
OBJECTIVES: Although educational achievement is positively related to levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among White adults, there is an inverse association among Blacks. We assessed whether this interaction could be attributed to differences in the relation of education to correlates of HDL-C. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were based on data from 8391 White and 995 Black adults who participated in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: Associations between education and HDL-C levels varied from negative (Black men), to nearly nonexistent (White men and Black women), to positive (White women). Mean HDL-C levels were higher among Blacks than among Whites, but differences varied according to educational achievement. Among adults with less than 9 years of education, mean levels were 6 to 10 mg/dL higher among Blacks, but the radical difference was less than 1 mg/dL among adults with at least 16 years of education. About 20% to 40% of these differences could be accounted for by obesity, alcohol consumption, and other characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the implications for coronary heart disease risk, consideration should be given to behavioral characteristics associated with the interaction between race and educational achievement.
Authors: D J Gordon; J L Probstfield; R J Garrison; J D Neaton; W P Castelli; J D Knoke; D R Jacobs; S Bangdiwala; H A Tyroler Journal: Circulation Date: 1989-01 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Lisa L Barnes; Robert S Wilson; Liesi E Hebert; Paul A Scherr; Denis A Evans; Carlos F Mendes de Leon Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2011-03-14 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Kristal L Chichlowska; Kathryn M Rose; Ana V Diez-Roux; Sherita H Golden; Annie M McNeill; Gerardo Heiss Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2008-09-16 Impact factor: 4.312