Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
College/Unit
School of Medicine
Department/Program/Center
Medicine
Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, making improving cardiovascular health a key population health goal. As part of efforts to achieve this, the American Heart Association has developed the first comprehensive cardiovascular health index (CVHI). Our objective was to investigate the changes in CVHI in US states from 2003 to 2011.
Methods and Results
CVHI was examined using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data between 2003 and 2011 (odd‐numbered years). Total CVHI decreased from 3.73±0.01 in 2003 to 3.65±0.01 in 2009. The majority of states (88%) experienced a decline in CVHI and an increase in the prevalence of “poor” CVHI between 2003 and 2009. Among CVHI components, the highest prevalence of “ideal” was observed for blood glucose followed by smoking, whereas the lowest prevalence of “ideal” was observed for physical activity and diet. Between 2003 and 2009, prevalence of “ideal” smoking and diet status increased, while “ideal” prevalence of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, body mass index, and physical activity status decreased. We observed statistically significant differences between 2009 and 2011, outside the scope of the 2003–2009 trend, which we hypothesize are partially attributable to differences in sample demographic characteristics related to changes in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System methodology.
Conclusions
Overall, CVHI decreased, most likely due to decreases in “ideal” blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol status, which may stem from low prevalence of “ideal” physical activity and diet status. These findings can be used to inform state‐specific strategies and targets to improve cardiovascular health.
Digital Commons Citation
Pilkerton, Courtney S.; Singh, Sarah S.; Bias, Thomas K.; and Frisbee, Stephanie J., "Changes in Cardiovascular Health in the United States, 2003–2011" (2015). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2204.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/2204
Source Citation
Pilkerton, C. S., Singh, S. S., Bias, T. K., & Frisbee, S. J. (2015). Changes in Cardiovascular Health in the United States, 2003–2011. Journal of the American Heart Association, 4(9). https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.114.001650
Comments
a 2015 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes