Health
Cardiac disease factors up
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 2, 2004
The number of people without a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke declined from nearly 42% to 36% over the past decade, according to a paper published Jan. 16 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Public health officials have long been sounding alarms about the most common threats to heart health. From 1991-2001, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity rates increased significantly. Smoking, another risk factor, has not increased, but it also hasn't declined.
This article is the first of its kind to note that the pool of people without these risk factors is declining and that stroke and heart disease will be a growing burden on the health care system.
The decrease was greater in men than women and more significant in African-Americans than Caucasians. The decrease was noted in all states except Hawaii.
Authors suggested that clinicians renew their commitment to helping their patients control weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking to reverse the trend.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/02/02/hlbf0202.htm.
