title: Cardiovascular risks in a military health care beneficiary population with high blood pressure.
abstract: Prevention strategies for coronary artery disease among hypertensive patients require assessment of other modifiable risk factors in the target population. In this article, we describe the prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors in military beneficiaries with high blood pressure (HBP). Baseline data from an ongoing randomized clinical trial designed to test effectiveness of a comprehensive HBP intervention are used in the analysis. A total of 147 beneficiaries from a military health system participated in this study. Findings indicate that the rate of HBP control in this sample was suboptimal (32%: blood pressure < 140/90). Other prevalent cardiovascular risk factors include high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Many of these patients (31.3%) are also in the moderate-to-high danger level of developing coronary artery disease in the near future. These findings warrant a regular assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and rigorous behavioral interventions for all beneficiaries of the military health care system.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, TriService Nursing Research Program, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Diep N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.forename: Kandy K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M Candice
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Miyong T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors