Adherence to heart-healthy behaviors in a sample of the U.S. population.
BACKGROUND
Following national recommendations for physical activity, diet, and nonsmoking can reduce both incident and recurrent coronary heart disease. Prevalence data about combinations of behaviors are lacking. This study describes the prevalence of full adherence to national recommendations for physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and nonsmoking among individuals with and without coronary heart disease and examines characteristics associated with full adherence.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national population-based survey. We included respondents to the cardiovascular disease module and excluded individuals with poor physical health or activity limitations.


RESULTS
Subjects were most adherent to smoking recommendations (approximately 80%) and less adherent to fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity (approximately 20% for both). Only 5% of those without coronary heart disease and 7% of those with coronary heart disease were adherent to all three behaviors (P < .01). Among those without a history of coronary heart disease, female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.76), highest age quintile (OR 1.67; 95% CI, 1.28-2.19), more education (OR 2.48; 95% CI, 1.69-3.64), and more income (OR 1.19; 95% CI, 1.04-1.36) were associated with full adherence. Among those with coronary heart disease, mid-age quintile (OR 3.79; 95% CI, 1.35-10.68), good general health (OR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.07-3.94), and more income (OR 1.51; 95% CI, 1.06-2.16) were associated with full adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate the lack of a heart-healthy lifestyle among a sample of U.S. adults with and without coronary heart disease. Full adherence to combined behaviors is far below adherence to any of the individual behaviors.
Miller
Rosalie R
RR
Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
Sales
Anne E
AE
Kopjar
Branko
B
Fihn
Stephan D
SD
Bryson
Chris L
CL
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables