ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 16, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The AHA's 2020 Impact Goal:
To improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.
Regardless of presentation date and time, all five abstracts will have the same embargo release at 11 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.For more information Nov. 12-16, call the AHA News Media Staff Office at the Orange County Convention Center at(407) 685-5410. Before or after these dates, call the Communications Office in Dallas at (214) 706-1396.
Cardiovascular/Stroke Statistics (American Heart Association Statistical Supplement):
- Based on 2007 mortality data, more than 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds.
- Each year, about 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke.
- Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008 indicate that 33.5 percent of U.S. adults 20 years and older have high blood pressure.
- Despite four decades of progress, among Americans 18 years and older, 23.1 percent of men and 18.1 percent of women continued to be cigarette smokers in 2009.
- Among U.S. adults, 33.7 percent are obese.
- Thirty-three percent of adults engage in no regular leisure time activity.
Abstract 17917
Small lifestyle changes linked to reduced risk of death
Even a small lifestyle change would go a long way in improving cardiovascular health and reducing deaths, according to a new study.
The study followed 17,820 adults without vascular disease for 4.6 years. Researchers analyzed the impact of the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 behavioral/lifestyle plan on risk of death.
The seven health behaviors and factors of the program are designed to help participants improve their blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index (BMI), quit smoking, increase physical activity and adopt a healthy diet. Participants' adherence to the plan was scored as a shift to improvement from one category to another as poor (1 point), intermediate (2) or ideal (3).
Researchers found:
- Risk of death was reduced by 14 percent for each 1-unit improvement in the Simple 7 score.
- The risk was 21 percent lower when they looked at each 1-unit better score for BMI, smoking, physical activity or diet categories.
Thus, a small improvement (poor to intermediate or intermediate to ideal) for even one part of the Life's Simple 7 score was associated with substantial reduction in 4.6-year all cause mortality.
The impact of achieving the 2020 goal would be large if even 20 percent of the population improved by one level of the metric, researchers said.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health: National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Note: Actual presentation is 11:30 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.
Abstract 9754
Public health trends must change to reach 2020 impact goals
Researchers who analyze current health behavior and trends predict the American Heart Association's 2020 impact goal won't be met if health behavior and health factor trends don't change.
Researchers studied data from a national survey taken in two-year cycles (1999-2000, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2007-08) to estimate the number of poor, intermediate and ideal health behaviors/factors per individual. They looked at four health behaviors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity and diet), and three health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose) and found:
- The average number of ideal health behaviors/factors of men and women hasn't changed significantly from 1999 to 2008.
- The cardiovascular health score in men increased, but not significantly, from 7.5 to 7.7.
- The cardiovascular score for women was higher, 7.9 to 8.1, but was not statistically significant.
The researchers created a composite health score projected to 2020. If current trends continue, cardiovascular health score projections for 2020 are 7.7 for men and 8.3 for women. This would not achieve a 20 percent overall change in the composite score (9.4 for men, 10.1 for women), researchers said.
Note: Actual presentation is 11:15 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.
SEE ALSO – Abstract 9760
Improvements in health-promoting behaviors offset by obesity, diabetes
Improved trends in smoking, cholesterol and high blood pressure in the United States since 1988 have been offset by increases in body mass index (adiposity) and unhealthy blood sugar levels, researchers said.
Unless those trends are reversed, researchers project a 6 percent improvement in cardiovascular health by 2020, far short of the 20 percent improvement targeted by the AHA.
Abstract 13601
Ideal cardiovascular health linked to lower risk of cancer
Ideal cardiovascular health, which is based on seven risk factors and behaviors, was associated with lower cancer incidence in a long-term cohort study.
Researchers looked at the association between the number of cardiovascular health metrics at ideal levels and cancer incidence in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.
Data from the baseline exam determined whether participants met the definition of ideal health for each metric: smoking, BMI, physical activity, diet, cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose. The total number of ideal health metrics per person was computed and the association with breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer incidence was determined.
Researchers found that when compared to individuals with no ideal health metrics:
- One ideal health metric reduced risk of cancer by 20 percent.
- Three ideal health metrics reduced risk of cancer by 22 percent.
- Five to seven ideal health metrics reduced risk of cancer by 38 percent.
When smoking was removed from the sum of health metrics, the association was no longer significant, researchers said. However, the pattern of lower incidence remained in those with more ideal health metrics.
Researchers suggest partnerships between the American Heart Association and cancer health advocacy groups to promote the 2020 Strategic Goals.
Note: Actual presentation is 11:45 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.
Abstract 15462
Hispanics with ideal cardiovascular health have reduced cardiovascular risks
Hispanics as well as whites and African-Americans benefit from improvements in measures of ideal cardiovascular health, according to a new study.
Data has been previously lacking in Hispanics.
Researchers followed 2,981 Northern Manhattan Study participants (54 percent Hispanic, 25 percent black, 21 percent white) free of cardiovascular disease for a median of 11 years. Participants were classified according to American Heart Association health metrics into five groups based on the number of risk factors present at baseline.
Researchers found:
- Those with two ideal cardiovascular health metrics had a 27 percent reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, or CVD.
- Those with three ideal cardiovascular health metrics had a 39 percent reduced risk of CVD.
- Those with four ideal cardiovascular health metrics had a 51 percent reduced risk of CVD.
- Those with five to seven ideal cardiovascular health metrics had a 59 percent reduced risk of CVD.
These results demonstrate a clear gradient relationship between ideal cardiovascular health and CVD risk across race-ethnic groups, researchers said. Research supported by grants from NINDS.
Note: Actual presentation is 11:45 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.
Author disclosures are available on the abstracts.
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Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
NR11-1147 (SS11/2020 Goal Tips)
Additional Resources: The American Heart Association supports robust and more frequent physical education and physical activity in schools, strong, evidence-based nutrition standards for school meals and snacks and beverages sold in schools, reducing sodium and trans fat in the food supply, access to healthy and affordable foods in the community, robust standards for foods marketed and advertised to children, comprehensive worksite wellness programs, and strong clinical guidelines for obesity prevention, diagnosis and treatment. For more information: www.heart.org/obesitypolicy.
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