Cariovascular Health in Adults: USA

• • Epidemiology and Prevention

Status of Cardiovascular Health in US Adults

Prevalence Estimates From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003–2008

Christina M. Shay, PhD, MA; 

Hongyan Ning, MD, MS; 

Norrina B. Allen, PhD, MPH; 

Mercedes R. Carnethon, PhD; 

Stephanie E. Chiuve, ScD;

Kurt J. Greenlund, PhD*; 

Martha L. Daviglus, MD, PhD;

Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM

 

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Abstract

Background—The American Heart Association's 2020 Strategic Impact Goals define a new concept, cardiovascular (CV) health; however, current prevalence estimates of the status of CV health in US adults according to age, sex, and race/ethnicity have not been published.

Methods and Results—We included 14 515 adults (≥20 years of age) from the 2003 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Participants were stratified by young (20–39 years), middle (40–64 years), and older (≥65 years) ages. CV health behaviors (diet, physical activity, body mass index, smoking) and CV health factors (blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, smoking) were defined as poor, intermediate, or ideal. Fewer than 1% of adults exhibited ideal CV health for all 7 metrics. For CV health behaviors, nonsmoking was most prevalent (range, 60.2%–90.4%), whereas ideal Healthy Diet Score was least prevalent (range, 0.2%–2.6%) across groups. Prevalences of ideal body mass index (range, 36.5%–45.3%) and ideal physical activity levels (range, 50.2%–58.8%) were higher in young adults compared with middle or older ages. Ideal total cholesterol (range, 23.7%–36.2%), blood pressure (range, 11.9%–16.3%), and fasting blood glucose (range, 31.2%–42.9%) were lower in older adults compared with young and middle-aged adults. Prevalence of poor CV health factors was lowest in young age but higher at middle and older ages. Prevalence estimates by age and sex were consistent across race/ethnic groups.

Conclusions—These prevalence estimates of CV health represent a starting point from which effectiveness of efforts to promote CV health and prevent CV disease can be monitored and compared in US adult populations.