Dallas, TX – The American Heart Association is encouraged by the reduction in the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) reported in the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. However, the association is concerned to see the disparities that remain with certain groups and urges all people to improve their health, as cardiovascular diseases remain the No. 1 killer of men and women.
The CDC reported a 0.7 percent drop in the prevalence of self-reported coronary heart disease – from 6.7 percent in 2006 to 6.0 percent in 2010.
“While the American Heart Association is grateful to see that our hard work is paying off with the falling prevalence of coronary heart disease overall, and with reduced death rates seen in other studies, the reported disparities are unconscionable in a nation such as ours,” said Rose Marie Robertson, M.D., chief science officer, American Heart Association. “Unless we improve adverse health factors like obesity and diabetes, we may be looking at a much different scenario in the next ten to twenty years.”
Prevalence tells us what people have reported being told by a healthcare provider about their coronary heart disease status. The CDC report details results from people in all states and U.S. territories, grouped by age, gender, race/ethnicity and educational status.
Prevalence can fall or rise, based on a combination of factors.
Factors contributing to a fall in CHD prevalence:
Improved health factors: Fewer people develop CHD due to greater awareness and control of health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.
Lack of awareness/access: People don’t know they have CHD because they don’t access health care enough to find out.
Factors contributing to a rise in CHD prevalence:
Adverse health factors: More people develop CHD due to diabetes, obesity, or other worsening health factors.
More effective treatment: Fewer people will have heart attacks and fewer people will die from heart attacks, which translates into more people surviving and living with CHD.
The CDC report reflects substantial inequities in access to healthcare in the United States. These inequities account for great differences in incidence, prevalence and death rates. Individuals with low educational levels and low socio-economic status living in some of our states and among some racial/ethnic groups have not benefited from advances in science and medicine.
