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July/August 2008

Division Contributions and Information

2008 National Institute for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Training Event: September 9 – 11, Hilton Atlanta.

The Community Health Worker’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Sourcebook

The Community Health Worker’s Sourcebook is now available online. The sourcebook contains information and activities on heart disease and stroke and on the major risk factors for these diseases in adults. It also contains information on risk factors that begin in childhood. Additionally, it addresses people’s adherence to treatment and their communication with health care providers.

News Articles

 PEACE of Heart

A new campaign to fight heart disease in minority, and low-income communities launched July 2 by a coalition of minority groups, physicians, community health advocates, and companies in the health care sector. The acronym PEACE stands for: Partnership, Evaluation, Action, Community and Education. The campaign will work to identify people at risk in underserved communities in six cities, with free screenings at community health centers. LabCorp, one of the partners, will test cholesterol and blood glucose at no cost to participants.

‘Silent Strokes’ Strike One in Ten Healthy People

A new study published in Stroke estimates that 10.7 percent of 2,040 people studies in the Framingham Offspring Study experienced “silent brain infarcts.”  Possible loss of brain function occurred after the silent strokes (termed silent since no symptoms occur).  Dr. Seshadri, study author, said the group was younger than in most prior studies, and mentioned that “It’s up to the medical and public health community to emphasize the importance of controlling risk factors,” rather than going out to have an MRI.  This U.S. News and World Report article about the study links to the DHDSP web site on Stroke Prevention at the end of the article.

Quality of Life, Outlook Darker for Heart Disease Patients

Jipan Xie was interviewed by HealthDay about DHDSP research reporting that adults with heart disease report up to a 9% lower quality of life and poorer outlook on life than those without the chronic disease. The report appears in the July 15 issue of Circulation.

Heart Disease a Leading Cause of Death Worldwide: Global Research Projects Seek to End Preventable Heart Attacks, Strokes

A reporter for the U.S. Department of State’s website, , interviewed Dr. Labarthe. Dr. Labarthe articulates the prominence of heart disease worldwide, various international cardiovascular research projects conducted, and promotes the need for prevention of risk factors as a strategy for eliminating heart disease. 

Heart Failure Hospitalization Trend Rises

A writer for the American College of Cardiology’s website, CardioSmart, , interviewed Jing Fang. An excerpt from the article: “When researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, an annual report on in-patient care from about 500 hospitals nationwide, they found that heart failure-related hospitalizations jumped from just over 1 million to nearly 4 million between 1979 and 2004.”

AHA debuts HeartHub for Patients (and Professionals)

The American Heart Association unveiled a new cardiovascular disease and stroke information portal for patients, with a professional version available also.  The site includes online tools–heart health trackers, links to information about personal health records, videos, links to online support groups, and lots of patient education material. 

While the U.S. Spends Heavily on Health Care, a Study Faults the Quality

American medical care may be the most expensive in the world, but that does not mean it is worth every penny. A study to be released Thursday highlights the stark contrast between what the United States spends on its health system and the quality of care it delivers, especially when compared with many other industrialized nations.

Risk Factor News and Resources

Fewer Heart Disease Deaths in Massachusetts as Smoking Declines

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health demonstrated that declines in smoking prevalence in Massachusetts contributed to a decrease in the number of deaths from heart disease. Fourteen percent of the declines in CHD deaths occurring in 2003 were attributable to the decreased smoking rates from 1993 and 2003. The authors stated that sustaining and supporting comprehensive state tobacco control programs will prevent more deaths from tobacco-related disease.

Education, Income Affect Heart Attack Survival Rates

Being well-off and well-educated may improve your chances of surviving a heart attack, according to new report. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic, studying medical records of heart attack patients from its home base of Olmsted County, Minn., report that those with lower incomes and less education were more likely to die after the attack than their more affluent, educated counterparts.

AHA Statement on Population Based Prevention of Obesity

The American Heart Association published a statement on a population-based approach to reduce obesity in the United States in the journal Circulation. Chair of the working group, Shiriki Kumanyika mentioned the following modifications to the environment which can affect people’s choices and provide targets for change:

• Locations of fast-food restaurants

• Restaurant portion sizes

• Availability of high-fat, low-fiber foods and sweetened drinks

• Community design and infrastructure, which involves assessing land use mix and “walkability” of neighborhoods, including –

o Adequate sidewalks and areas for physical activity

o Accessibility of jobs, schools, and recreation by walking or cycling

o Availability of public transportation.

Impact of Prevention on Reducing the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease

A study produced jointly by the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society appears in the July 7 issue of Circulation analyzing the predicted effects of 11 prevention strategies for reducing cardiovascular disease.

Guidelines Highlight Key Differences Between Child and Adult Stroke

The American Heart Association released guidelines published in the journal Stroke for prevention, evaluation, and treatment of stroke in children, which is uncommon but not as rare as previously thought.

Lowering Cholesterol Early in Life Could Save Lives

Researchers at UC San Diego propose aggressive prevention to lower cholesterol levels starting in childhood as the best approach to reduce heart disease. “Early signs of heart disease should be taken as seriously as early signs of cancer or diabetes,” states Dr. Daniel Steinberg, and “early intervention will probably prevent considerably more than 30% of coronary heart disease.”

Investments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities

The Trust for America’s Health reports, “a small, strategic investment in disease prevention could result in significant savings in U.S. health care costs.” Titled, Prevention for a Healthier America: Investments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities, the 72 page report concludes that an investment of $10 per person per year in proven community-based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking could save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. This is a return of $5.60 for every $1 spent.

Results from the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance, 2008

The Commonwealth Fund released an updated report on US health system performance. According to the report, the US fails on many measures of health care quality, with Americans waiting longer to see doctors and more likely to die of preventable or treatable illnesses than people in other industrialized countries. 

A spot of good news-the report notes that control of high blood pressure increased from 31 percent in 2000 to 41 percent of patients in 2004.

Blue Cross Blue Shield 2008 Medical Cost Reference Guide: Facts and Trends Driving Healthcare Costs, Quality and Access

This report includes charts, tables, and analysis on healthcare economics, utilization, financing, and management trends, many based on CDC data. Includes a section on “Engaging and Empowering Consumers” with information on how consumers access health information, and lifestyle, chronic diseases costs.

Investing in Health: Proven Health Promotion Practices For Workplaces

This is a practical guide for employers from the Partnership for Prevention on implementing tobacco control, cancer screening and early detection, plus physical activity and nutrition programs for health promotion.

Legal corner

Restaurants sue over nutrition posting law

San Francisco Chronicle (07/08/08)

Jill Tucker



Calorie-posting ordinance spurs lawsuit by restaurants

Greece banning all public, indoor smoking by 2010

Calgary Herald (06/27/08)



New law aimed at passive smoking

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News content is selected solely on the basis of newsworthiness and potential interest to readers. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinions expressed by the original authors of items included in the News, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the official position of CDC or DHHS. References to products, trade names, publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.

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