Incidence rates of diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2007-2016

Abstract

During 2007-2016, 18.1% of all active component service members were diagnosed with at least one of the five risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) studied in this analysis. In addition, 0.6% of service members were diagnosed with at least one of the four CVDs studied. The most frequently diagnosed risk factors were (in descending order of frequency) obesity, hyperlipidemia, essential hypertension, abnormal blood glucose level, and diabetes mellitus. Incidence rates of both risk factors and CVD were progressively higher with advancing age. Annual incidence rates during the 10-year period declined for the risk factors hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, but rose for obesity and abnormal blood glucose level. Annual rates of the CVDs ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease declined, but rates of hypertensive heart/kidney disease and atherosclerosis remained relatively stable. Noteworthy findings were the increase in incidence rates of obesity, the decline in incidence rates of ischemic heart disease, and the decline in rates of hypertension in non-Hispanic black service members. The identification of CVD risk factors, including others not studied in this analysis, offers the opportunity for preventive interventions that can reduce the rates of clinical CVD during, but especially after, military service.