Community Prevalence of Ideal Cardiovascular Health, by the American Heart Association Definition, and Relationship With Cardiovascular Disease Incidence

People who adhere to a healthy lifestyle have markedly reduced rates of incident cardiovascular events.

“Much evidence has also shown that persons who adhere to a healthy lifestyle have markedly reduced rates of incident cardiovascular events.25–30”

In 2004-2006, most Asian adults had never smoked, with rates ranging from 65% of Korean adults to 84% of Chinese adults.

“In 2004 to 2006 data, adult cigarette smoking varied among Asian subgroups. Most Asian adults had never smoked, with rates ranging from 65% of Korean adults to 84% of Chinese adults.”

In 2004-2006, Korean adults (22%) were approximately 2 to 3 times as likely to be current smokers as Japanese (12%), Asian Indian (7%), or Chinese (7%) adults.

“Korean adults (22%) were approximately 2 to 3 times as likely to be current smokers as Japanese (12%), Asian Indian (7%), or Chinese (7%) adults on the basis of age-adjusted estimates (NHIS).10”

Thirty-three percent of respondents in a study examining awareness of current US physical activity guidelines had direct knowledge of the recommended dosage of physical activity.

“Thirty-three percent of respondents in a study examining awareness of current US PA guidelines had direct knowledge of the recommended dosage of PA (ie, frequency/duration).10”

When estimates were based on self-reported height and weight in the 2011 BRFSS/CDC survey, obesity prevalence ranged from 20.7% in Colorado to 34.9% in Mississippi.

“the prevalence of obesity ranged from 20.7% in Colorado to 34.9% in Mississippi.”

The median state obesity percentage was 27.8%.

“The median percentage by state was 27.8%.10”

Among US adults with hypercholesterolemia, the percentage who had been told they had high cholesterol increased from 42.0% during 1999-2000 to 50.4% during 2005-2006.

“Among adults with hypercholesterolemia, the percentage who had been told that they had high cholesterol increased from 42.0% during 1999 to 2000 to 50.4% during 2005 to 2006.10”

Genetic markers discovered so far have not been shown to improve cardiovascular risk prediction beyond models that include family history.

“Genetic markers discovered thus far have not been shown to add to cardiovascular risk prediction tools beyond current models that incorporate family history.10”

Self-reported use of cholesterol-lowering medications increased from 8.2% during 1999-2000 to 14.0% during 2005-2006.

“Self-reported use of cholesterol-lowering medications increased from 8.2% during 1999 to 2000 to 14.0% during 2005 to 2006.10”

The percentage of US adults who reported having had a cholesterol check increased from 68.6% during 1999-2000 to 74.8% during 2005-2006.

“The percentage of adults who reported having had a cholesterol check increased from 68.6% during 1999 to 2000 to 74.8% during 2005 to 2006.10”

Data from the 2004 NNHS showed that the most frequent chronic medical condition among long-term stay residents aged 65 years or older was hypertension (53% of men and 56% of women).

“Data from the 2004 NNHS revealed the most frequent chronic medical condition among this nationally representative sample of long-term stay residents aged ≥65 years was hypertension (53% of men and 56% of women).”

Of 1514 SEARCH participants, 95% reported having blood pressure checks, 88% reported lipid-level checks, 68% reported HbA1c testing, and 66% reported eye examinations.

“Of 1514 SEARCH participants, 95% reported having undergone BP checks and 88% reported lipid-level checks, whereas slightly more than two thirds (68%) reported having had HbA1c testing or eye examinations (66%).10”

In children 6 to 17 years of age participating in research studies in a single clinical research hospital, the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was unstable in 46% of cases after a mean of 5.6 years of follow-up.

“In children 6 to 17 years of age participating in research studies in a single clinical research hospital, the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was unstable in 46% of cases after a mean of 5.6 years of follow-up.10”

An additional 20 million people are at increased risk for CKD.

“Another 20 million are at increased risk for CKD.10”

If all forms of major CVD were eliminated, life expectancy could rise by almost 7 years.

“According to the NCHS, if all forms of major CVD were eliminated, life expectancy could rise by almost 7 years.”

The probability at birth of eventually dying of major CVD is 47%, and the chance of dying of cancer is 22%.

“According to the same study, the probability at birth of eventually dying of major CVD (I00–I78) is 47%, and the chance of dying of cancer is 22%.”

If all forms of cancer were eliminated, the estimated life expectancy gain could be 3 years.

“If all forms of cancer were eliminated, the estimated gain could be 3 years.”

In 2005, tobacco smoking and high blood pressure were estimated to be responsible for 467,000 deaths, about 1 in 5 or 6 deaths among US adults.

“In 2005, tobacco smoking and HBP were estimated to be responsible for 467 000 deaths, accounting for ≈1 in 5 or 6 deaths among US adults.”

High dietary salt, low dietary omega-3 fatty acids, and high dietary trans fatty acids were the dietary risks with the largest estimated excess mortality effects.

“High dietary salt, low dietary omega-3 fatty acids, and high dietary trans fatty acids were the dietary risks with the largest estimated excess mortality effects.10”

Overweight/obesity and physical inactivity were each estimated to be responsible for nearly 1 in 10 US adult deaths.

“Overweight/obesity and physical inactivity were each estimated to be responsible for nearly 1 in 10 deaths.”

Poor lifestyle habits, particularly poor diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use, largely account for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and adiposity and their sequelae.

“Most of these conditions and their sequelae are preventable or occur at unnecessarily young ages and largely owe to suboptimal lifestyle habits, in particular, poor diet, physical inactivity, and use of tobacco.3–13”

Most cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and adiposity conditions and their sequelae are preventable or occur at unnecessarily young ages.

“Most of these conditions and their sequelae are preventable or occur at unnecessarily young ages and largely owe to suboptimal lifestyle habits, in particular, poor diet, physical inactivity, and use of tobacco.3–13”

The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health is very low in the US population.

“However, the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health is very low in the US population, and the prevalence of poor-quality diet, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity is alarmingly high, presaging a worsening of the current distribution of health biomarkers.1–8”

The high prevalence of poor-quality diet, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity presages a worsening of the current distribution of health biomarkers.

“However, the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health is very low in the US population, and the prevalence of poor-quality diet, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity is alarmingly high, presaging a worsening of the current distribution of health biomarkers.1–8”

The prevalence of poor-quality diet, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity is alarmingly high in the US population.

“However, the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health is very low in the US population, and the prevalence of poor-quality diet, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity is alarmingly high, presaging a worsening of the current distribution of health biomarkers.1–8”

Over 20 years of follow-up, adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who had higher numbers of either health behaviors or biomarkers at ideal levels had dramatically lower cardiovascular disease event rates, and results were similar for blacks and whites.

“Likewise, over 20 years of follow-up, adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who had higher numbers of either health behaviors or biomarkers at ideal levels had dramatically lower cardiovascular disease event rates, and results were similar for blacks and whites.4”