Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk for Employees Through Participation in a Wellness Program

The objective was to evaluate the long-term impact that the University of Rochester Employee Wellness program has made in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. The authors conducted a 5-year retrospective study to measure change in health outcomes for more than 16,000 employees who participated in the program for more than 1 year between January 2013 and December 2017. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate the impact of participation on improvement in cardiovascular disease risk. Statistically significant improvement was found in the health of participants. Almost 50% of all program participants, having moderate-to-high risk at baseline, improved their 10-year cardiovascular disease risk. Moreover, about a third of participants improved by a full risk category. Engagement in a condition management program also was found to increase the odds of improvement by 36%. The integrated approach to wellness can improve the long-term health of participants and reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease by achieving long-term improved lifestyle behaviors. Employers, employee benefits brokers, and insurance companies need to assess wellness programs by their performance and by their design, specifically as it relates to long-term outcomes.