Cardiovascular health status and health risk assessment method of preference among worksite employees

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Cardiovascular Health
• Health Risk Assessment

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant health concern in the workforce.
• Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) are tools used to identify and manage health risks.
• Employee preference for HRA methods may influence engagement and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cardiovascular health risk between employees selecting self-report HRAs versus those choosing HRAs with measured indicators.
• To investigate if HRA method preference correlates with actual cardiovascular health status or lifestyle habits.
• To examine the accuracy of self-reported cardiovascular health among employees.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving two groups of employees (n=62 self-report HRA, n=114 measured HRA).
• Collection of data on measured cardiovascular health indicators and self-reported lifestyle habits.
• Analysis of differences in CVD risk and health perception between the two HRA groups.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in measured CVD health status or self-reported lifestyle between the groups.
• Employees in both groups consistently overestimated their cardiovascular health.
• Cardiovascular health status did not influence the choice of HRA method.

Conclusions:

• Employees tend to overestimate their cardiovascular health regardless of HRA method.
• The choice between self-report and measured HRAs did not differentiate CVD risk levels in this sample.
• Findings suggest a need for improved health literacy and accurate self-assessment regarding cardiovascular health in the workplace.