Cardiovascular Health Status by Occupational Group - 21 States, 2013

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with significant economic impact due to lost productivity.
• The American Heart Association identified seven ideal cardiovascular health metrics (CHMs) to mitigate CVD risks.
• Fewer than 2% of U.S. adults achieve all seven CHMs, highlighting a critical public health challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between occupation and adherence to cardiovascular health metrics (CHMs) in the U.S. working population.
• To identify occupational groups with the lowest adherence to ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors.
• To inform employer-sponsored health promotion strategies and resource allocation for CVD prevention.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) industry and occupation module.
• Inclusion of data from 21 states, focusing on employed individuals.
• Examination of the prevalence of meeting two or fewer CHMs across different occupational groups.

Main Results:

• Community/social services, transportation/material moving, and architecture/engineering employees showed the highest prevalence of meeting two or fewer CHMs.
• Transportation and material moving employees exhibited the highest rates of non-ideal scores for physical activity, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI).
• Significant disparities in cardiovascular health status were observed among U.S. occupational groups.

Conclusions:

• Occupation is a significant factor associated with disparities in cardiovascular health.
• Workplace health promotion programs should consider occupational-specific risks and tailor interventions.
• Targeted prevention resources are needed for occupational groups with lower cardiovascular health adherence.