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Published on: January 15, 2017

30,000 fewer heart attacks and strokes in North Carolina: a challenge to prioritize prevention

Alain G Bertoni1, Don Ensley, David C Goff

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem NC 27157, USA. abertoni@wakehealth.edu

North Carolina Medical Journal
|April 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Heart disease and stroke are major causes of death in North Carolina. Prevention efforts focus on the ABCS (aspirin, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking) and lifestyle factors to reduce attacks and strokes.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
  • Health Policy

Background:

  • Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death and significant healthcare cost drivers in North Carolina.
  • Known risk factors include smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity, often exacerbated by suboptimal control and adverse health behaviors.
  • Environmental and societal factors also negatively impact cardiovascular health.
  • The national Million Hearts initiative aims to prevent 30,000 heart attacks and strokes in North Carolina within 5 years.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline strategies for primary and secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke in North Carolina.
  • To align state-level efforts with the national Million Hearts initiative goals.
  • To address the challenge of cardiovascular disease prevention across all age groups in the state.

Main Methods:

  • Implementing the Million Hearts initiative's ABCS strategy: appropriate aspirin use, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation.
  • Addressing additional risk factors outlined in North Carolina's Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force Plan, including physical inactivity, poor nutrition, obesity, and diabetes.
  • Enhancing prevention through public policies, legislation, community coalitions, and clinical quality improvement initiatives.

Main Results:

  • The Million Hearts initiative focuses on the ABCS: aspirin use, blood pressure control, cholesterol control, and smoking cessation.
  • The North Carolina task force plan incorporates physical activity, nutrition, obesity, and diabetes management.
  • Multi-faceted approaches involving policy, community engagement, and clinical practice are highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Effective cardiovascular disease prevention requires a comprehensive approach addressing both clinical and community-level factors.
  • Policy, legislation, and community partnerships are crucial for enhancing prevention efforts.
  • Quality improvement in clinical settings is essential for optimizing the assessment, treatment, and control of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

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