CDC: Health factors differ significantly between states, counties
A state-based survey that assessed health-risk behaviors, chronic conditions and preventive health in 54 states and territories, showed that these factors significantly vary on a state-by-state basis and that 2010 health improvement objectives have mostly not been met, according to a report conducted by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The estimated prevalence of health behavior risk factors, chronic conditions, and use of preventive care services varies substantially across the U.S. Ongoing surveillance is essential to identify groups at highest risk and to design and implement appropriate public health programs and policies,” wrote the authors.
The 2007 survey collected data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) between January 2007 and December 2007, and surveyed at random 430,912 adults over the age of 18 from 184 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs) and 298 counties.
“This report provides comparable prevalence estimates for selected risk behaviors, preventive services, and chronic conditions,” the authors wrote.
According to CDC, the BRFSS questionnaire aggregated data from key areas including the rates of diabetes, high-blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol awareness, asthma, immunizations, tobacco use, alcohol use and physical activity.
During the survey, respondents were asked to rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. After combining the data to two groups, those with fair and poor health and all others, results showed that on average those who reported their health to be between poor and fair was 15.2 percent. The rates were lowest in Utah at 10.9 percent and highest in Puerto Rico at 32.2 percent.
Among MMSAs, 31.2 percent of participants reported to be in fair or poor health, with the highest rate reported in Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio and the lowest at 7.2 percent in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Overall, an average of 85.6 percent of the respondents reported that they were covered by health insurance (private plans, prepaid plans or government health plans). Hawaii reported having the most coverage at 94 percent.
In regard to preventative measures, moderate or vigorous exercise was highest in Alaska with 60.8 percent reporting that they do some form of vigorous or moderate exercise such as jogging, brisk walking, etc. The lowest number was reported in Puerto Rico at 30.9 percent. Obesity rates were highest in Mississippi at 33.5 percent and lowest in Colorado at 19.9 percent.
In addition, West Virginia exhibited the highest number of those with coronary heart disease (CHD)--classified as heart attack, angina or CHD. Of the MMSAs, the highest rate was conveyed in Homosassa Springs, Florida at 13.5 percent and the lowest in Boulder, Colorado at 2.8 percent.
The report also collected data on health-risk behaviors such as smoking and heavy drinking. As for smoking, surveyors asked respondents to classify themselves as smokers if they had smoked 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoked everyday or occasionally during the survey period. Guam held the highest smoking rate with 31 percent and the average among the MMAs and the states was 19.7 percent.
“Large variations in fair or poor health at the state and local level suggest differences in the underlying burden of chronic diseases, healthcare coverage, and health behaviors among states and territories, MMSAs and counties,” the report stated.
In addition, the authors wrote that “some findings indicate that certain HP 2010 goals have not been attained.”
“Lack of healthcare coverage might have an adverse impact on health because it is associated with access to and use of preventive health-care services that include blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer screenings (e.g., mammography, and Pap test). In 2007, no state and territory, MMSA, or county achieved the HP 2010 objective of 100 percent healthcare coverage,” the report said.
In addition, the report showed that only two states, five MMSAs and 22 counties reached the HP 2010 objectives for smoking (12 percent). As per obesity levels, 2010 objectives aimed to reduce the proportion of those who are obese to 15 percent. No state or territory met these objectives.
“Extensive public health programs that target healthy life styles are necessary to control overweight and obesity at the state and local levels,” the report said.
According to the authors, results may be skewed and be laced with biases due to the fact that BRFSS data were self-reported.
“The results in this report indicate a need to continue to monitor health-risk behaviors, chronic conditions and use preventative health services at state and local levels,” the authors concluded.
“The estimated prevalence of health behavior risk factors, chronic conditions, and use of preventive care services varies substantially across the U.S. Ongoing surveillance is essential to identify groups at highest risk and to design and implement appropriate public health programs and policies,” wrote the authors.
The 2007 survey collected data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) between January 2007 and December 2007, and surveyed at random 430,912 adults over the age of 18 from 184 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs) and 298 counties.
“This report provides comparable prevalence estimates for selected risk behaviors, preventive services, and chronic conditions,” the authors wrote.
According to CDC, the BRFSS questionnaire aggregated data from key areas including the rates of diabetes, high-blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol awareness, asthma, immunizations, tobacco use, alcohol use and physical activity.
During the survey, respondents were asked to rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. After combining the data to two groups, those with fair and poor health and all others, results showed that on average those who reported their health to be between poor and fair was 15.2 percent. The rates were lowest in Utah at 10.9 percent and highest in Puerto Rico at 32.2 percent.
Among MMSAs, 31.2 percent of participants reported to be in fair or poor health, with the highest rate reported in Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio and the lowest at 7.2 percent in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Overall, an average of 85.6 percent of the respondents reported that they were covered by health insurance (private plans, prepaid plans or government health plans). Hawaii reported having the most coverage at 94 percent.
In regard to preventative measures, moderate or vigorous exercise was highest in Alaska with 60.8 percent reporting that they do some form of vigorous or moderate exercise such as jogging, brisk walking, etc. The lowest number was reported in Puerto Rico at 30.9 percent. Obesity rates were highest in Mississippi at 33.5 percent and lowest in Colorado at 19.9 percent.
In addition, West Virginia exhibited the highest number of those with coronary heart disease (CHD)--classified as heart attack, angina or CHD. Of the MMSAs, the highest rate was conveyed in Homosassa Springs, Florida at 13.5 percent and the lowest in Boulder, Colorado at 2.8 percent.
The report also collected data on health-risk behaviors such as smoking and heavy drinking. As for smoking, surveyors asked respondents to classify themselves as smokers if they had smoked 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoked everyday or occasionally during the survey period. Guam held the highest smoking rate with 31 percent and the average among the MMAs and the states was 19.7 percent.
“Large variations in fair or poor health at the state and local level suggest differences in the underlying burden of chronic diseases, healthcare coverage, and health behaviors among states and territories, MMSAs and counties,” the report stated.
In addition, the authors wrote that “some findings indicate that certain HP 2010 goals have not been attained.”
“Lack of healthcare coverage might have an adverse impact on health because it is associated with access to and use of preventive health-care services that include blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer screenings (e.g., mammography, and Pap test). In 2007, no state and territory, MMSA, or county achieved the HP 2010 objective of 100 percent healthcare coverage,” the report said.
In addition, the report showed that only two states, five MMSAs and 22 counties reached the HP 2010 objectives for smoking (12 percent). As per obesity levels, 2010 objectives aimed to reduce the proportion of those who are obese to 15 percent. No state or territory met these objectives.
“Extensive public health programs that target healthy life styles are necessary to control overweight and obesity at the state and local levels,” the report said.
According to the authors, results may be skewed and be laced with biases due to the fact that BRFSS data were self-reported.
“The results in this report indicate a need to continue to monitor health-risk behaviors, chronic conditions and use preventative health services at state and local levels,” the authors concluded.