Factors associated with chest pain were investigated in an independent dataset in the colored South Africans outside hospitals. Data were extracted from a cross-sectional study during 1982 in the Cape Peninsula. Information on lifestyle was obtained by interview. Regression modelings were performed. In multivariate analysis, only age (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.11 to 2.14), mother having high blood pressure (OR 1.53, 95%CI 1.10 to 2.12), and father having stroke (OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.14 to 3.57) remained in the model. The results provide insight into the role of social factors that should be considered in the identification of future prevention and treatment.