Introduction: In 2008, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for one in three deaths in the United States. Epidemiological analyses suggest that two or more risk factors are the indicator of high risk and/or poor CVD...Introduction: In 2008, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for one in three deaths in the United States. Epidemiological analyses suggest that two or more risk factors are the indicator of high risk and/or poor CVD outcomes. Knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptomology has been the focus of much research based on the assumption that accurate identification of an event is critical to reducing time to treatment. There is a paucity of research showing a clear association between knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptomology, risk factors, and mortality rates. In this study, we hypothesized that high stroke and heart attack symptomology knowledge scores would correspond to lower stroke or CVD mortality rankings as well as to a lower prevalence of two or more CVD risk factors. Methods: State was the unit of analysis used to examine data from two different sources and combined into a customized database. The first source was a multiyear Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge module database. CVD and stroke mortality data used came from the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2012 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. Spearman’s Rho was the test statistic. Results: A moderate negative correlation was found between high heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge scores and the percentage of adults with two or more CVD or stroke risk factors. Likewise, a similar correlation resulted from the two variables, high heart attack and stroke symptoms knowledge score and CVD mortality rank. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a significant relationship between high heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge and lower CVD mortality rates and lower prevalence of two or more CVD risk factors at the state level. Our findings suggest that it is important to continue education efforts regarding heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge. Pharmacists are one group of health care providers who could enhance the needed public health education efforts.展开更多
Introduction: For persons with diabetes, cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality that is reflected in a two-to- four times greater risk for both heart disease and stroke when compared to a...Introduction: For persons with diabetes, cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality that is reflected in a two-to- four times greater risk for both heart disease and stroke when compared to adults without diabetes. Although not without controversy, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) management guidelines in the US recommend the use of once-daily aspirin. This epidemiological study was undertaken to fill the knowledge gap regarding the prevalence of daily or near daily aspirin use for US age-appropriate adults with diabetes. Methods: Using bivariate and multivariate techniques, a cross-sectional analysis of an amalgamated database using 2005, 2007, and 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data was performed. The dependent variable for this analysis was daily or near daily aspirin use. The population of interest was US adults, men >= 45 - 79 and women >= 55 - 79 years of age. Results: Overall the prevalence of daily or near daily aspirin use by age-appropriate US adults with diabetes was 62.5%;it was 41.0% for similar non-diabetic adults. Logistic regression analysis yielded that age-appropriate adults, of both genders, with diabetes taking daily or near daily aspirin were more likely to be: physically active, male, live in rural locales, not have a health care provider, have deferred medical care because of cost, have an elevated BMI, a smoker, and have hypertension. Conclusion: It was determined that the age-appropriate use of aspirin in the US adult population with diabetes is underutilized. The role of the pharmacist through- out the continuum of care is one way to improve appropriate aspirin use in patients with diabetes.展开更多
文摘Introduction: In 2008, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for one in three deaths in the United States. Epidemiological analyses suggest that two or more risk factors are the indicator of high risk and/or poor CVD outcomes. Knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptomology has been the focus of much research based on the assumption that accurate identification of an event is critical to reducing time to treatment. There is a paucity of research showing a clear association between knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptomology, risk factors, and mortality rates. In this study, we hypothesized that high stroke and heart attack symptomology knowledge scores would correspond to lower stroke or CVD mortality rankings as well as to a lower prevalence of two or more CVD risk factors. Methods: State was the unit of analysis used to examine data from two different sources and combined into a customized database. The first source was a multiyear Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge module database. CVD and stroke mortality data used came from the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2012 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. Spearman’s Rho was the test statistic. Results: A moderate negative correlation was found between high heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge scores and the percentage of adults with two or more CVD or stroke risk factors. Likewise, a similar correlation resulted from the two variables, high heart attack and stroke symptoms knowledge score and CVD mortality rank. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a significant relationship between high heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge and lower CVD mortality rates and lower prevalence of two or more CVD risk factors at the state level. Our findings suggest that it is important to continue education efforts regarding heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge. Pharmacists are one group of health care providers who could enhance the needed public health education efforts.
文摘Introduction: For persons with diabetes, cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality that is reflected in a two-to- four times greater risk for both heart disease and stroke when compared to adults without diabetes. Although not without controversy, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) management guidelines in the US recommend the use of once-daily aspirin. This epidemiological study was undertaken to fill the knowledge gap regarding the prevalence of daily or near daily aspirin use for US age-appropriate adults with diabetes. Methods: Using bivariate and multivariate techniques, a cross-sectional analysis of an amalgamated database using 2005, 2007, and 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data was performed. The dependent variable for this analysis was daily or near daily aspirin use. The population of interest was US adults, men >= 45 - 79 and women >= 55 - 79 years of age. Results: Overall the prevalence of daily or near daily aspirin use by age-appropriate US adults with diabetes was 62.5%;it was 41.0% for similar non-diabetic adults. Logistic regression analysis yielded that age-appropriate adults, of both genders, with diabetes taking daily or near daily aspirin were more likely to be: physically active, male, live in rural locales, not have a health care provider, have deferred medical care because of cost, have an elevated BMI, a smoker, and have hypertension. Conclusion: It was determined that the age-appropriate use of aspirin in the US adult population with diabetes is underutilized. The role of the pharmacist through- out the continuum of care is one way to improve appropriate aspirin use in patients with diabetes.
