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Incidence rates of diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors, active component, U.S. Armed

Francis L O'Donnell, Shauna Stahlman, Alexis A Oetting

    MSMR
    |March 27, 2018
    PubMed

    Insights

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors affected 18.1% of service members from 2007-2016, with obesity rising and hypertension declining. Early identification of these factors enables preventive interventions to reduce CVD incidence.

    Area of Science:

    • Military Health
    • Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
    • Preventive Medicine

    Background:

    • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden. Understanding the prevalence and trends of CVD risk factors within military populations is crucial for targeted public health initiatives.
    • From 2007-2016, a substantial portion of active component service members experienced diagnoses related to CVD risk factors, highlighting a need for ongoing monitoring and intervention strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the incidence and trends of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and diagnosed CVDs among active component service members between 2007 and 2016.
    • To identify demographic variations and temporal changes in CVD risk factor and disease prevalence within this population.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective analysis of electronic health records for active component service members from 2007 to 2016.
    • Inclusion criteria focused on diagnoses of specific CVD risk factors (obesity, hyperlipidemia, essential hypertension, abnormal blood glucose, diabetes mellitus) and CVDs (ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertensive heart/kidney disease, atherosclerosis).

    Main Results:

    • During 2007-2016, 18.1% of service members were diagnosed with at least one of five key CVD risk factors, while 0.6% were diagnosed with one of four CVDs.
    • Obesity and abnormal blood glucose incidence rates increased, whereas hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus rates declined. Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease rates decreased, while hypertensive heart/kidney disease and atherosclerosis remained stable.
    • Notable trends included a rise in obesity, a decline in ischemic heart disease, and a decrease in hypertension among non-Hispanic black service members.

    Conclusions:

    • The study underscores the dynamic nature of CVD risk factors in the military, with rising obesity rates necessitating focused preventive strategies.
    • Declining trends in certain CVDs and risk factors suggest potential benefits from existing interventions, but continued surveillance is essential.
    • Identifying and addressing CVD risk factors, particularly during and after military service, presents a critical opportunity to mitigate long-term cardiovascular health outcomes.

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