Correlates of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in black and white women.

The relationships of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol with body composition, leisure-time physical activity, cigarette smoking, and education were examined in a community-based sample of 480 Black and 1337 White women. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated inverse associations of HDL with body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio in both groups, and with cigarette smoking and low educational attainment among White women only. Since correlates of HDL cholesterol differ for Black and White women, further investigation of the differences in these correlates is warranted.