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. 2012 Dec;1(6):e005371.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.005371. Epub 2012 Dec 19.

Status of cardiovascular health among adult Americans in the 50 States and the District of Columbia, 2009

Jing Fang  1 , Quanhe Yang, Yuling Hong, Fleetwood Loustalot
Affiliations

Status of cardiovascular health among adult Americans in the 50 States and the District of Columbia, 2009

Jing Fang et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Background: With ideal cardiovascular health metrics, the American Heart Association established a goal of improving cardiovascular health for all Americans by 20% by 2020. Determining how the metrics vary by state is important to the individual states as well as to researchers and policy makers nationwide.

Methods and results: Using 2009 data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based telephone survey with 356 441 eligible participants, we examined the 7 metrics defined by the American Heart Association: hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, body mass index, diabetes, physical activity, and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The 3 primary outcomes of this study were (1) the percentage of the population achieving ideal health status on all 7 factors, (2) the percentage of the population with only 0 to 2 of the 7 metrics (poor cardiovascular health); and (3) the mean overall score (number of ideal metrics). Overall, 3.3% of population was in ideal cardiovascular health, and 9.9% was in poor cardiovascular health. The mean overall score was 4.42. The percentage with ideal cardiovascular health varied from 1.2% (Oklahoma) to 6.9% (District of Columbia ). The adjusted prevalence ratio of ideal cardiovascular health ranged from 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.29 to 0.52 (Oklahoma), to 1.91, 95% confidence interval 1.51 to 2.42 (District of Columbia), with Illinois as the referent.

Conclusions: In the United States, the cardiovascular health status of the population varies substantially by state. The estimates here could help state programs charged with preventing heart disease and stroke to set their goals for reducing risk and improving cardiovascular health in their jurisdictions.

Keywords: cardiovascular health; epidemiology; states.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Age‐standardized cardiovascular health status by US states, BRFSS, 2009. A, Age‐standardized prevalence of population with ideal cardiovascular health by states. B, Age‐standardized percentage of population with 0 to 2 cardiovascular health metrics by states. C, Age‐standardized mean score of cardiovascular health metrics by states. BRFSS indicates Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Adjusted prevalence ratio of ideal cardiovascular health by state, BRFSS, 2009. BRFSS indicates Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Adjusted prevalence ratio of ideal cardiovascular health by state, including patients with coronary heart disease and stroke, BRFSS, 2009. BRFSS indicates Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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