Reliability and Validity of Self-Reported Vascular Risk Factors: Hypertension, Diabetes, and Heart Disease, in a Multi-Ethnic Community Based Study of Aging and Dementia

BACKGROUND: Queries for the presence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors are typically assessed through self-report. However, the reliability and validity of self-reported cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors remain inconsistent in aging research. OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability and validity of the most frequently self-reported vascular risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. METHODS: 1,870 individuals aged 65 years or older among African Americans, Caribbean Hispanics, and white non-Hispanic individuals were recruited as part of a community study of aging and dementia. We assessed the reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity, and percent agreement of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, in comparison with direct measures of blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and medication use. The analyses were subsequently stratified by age, sex, education, and ethnic group. RESULTS: Reliability of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease was excellent. Agreement between self-reports and clinical measures was moderate for hypertension (kappa: 0.58), good for diabetes (kappa: 0.76–0.79), and moderate for heart disease (kappa: 0.45) differing slightly by age, sex, education, and ethnic group. Sensitivity and specificity for hypertension was 88.6% –78.1%, for diabetes was 87.7% –92.0% (HbA1c ≥6.5%) or 92.7% –92.8% (HbA1c ≥7%), and for heart disease was 85.8% –75.5%. Percent agreement of self-reported was 87.0% for hypertension, 91.6% –92.6% for diabetes, and 77.4% for heart disease. CONCLUSION: Ascertainment of self-reported histories of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease are reliable and valid compared to direct measurements or medication use.