Background: Eliminating health disparities is one of two main goals of Healthy People 2010. We determined if disparities could be identified in New Hampshire, a small state (population: 1.2 million) with <3.5% racial and ethnic diversity, using risk factor data for the leading cause of death. Methods: We examined data from the 1997-1999 New Hampshire Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n=4261) for six cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, and tobacco use). We assessed potential disparities by education, ethnicity, geographic location, income, race, and sex. Analysis was performed using C-Sample in Epi Info. Reporting results was restricted to disparities >25%. Results: Persons with £12 years of education had a higher prevalence of tobacco use (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.5-1.9), diabetes (PR=1.6, CI=1.2-2.3), hypertension (PR=1.5, CI=1.3-1.8), physical inactivity (PR=1.3, CI=1.2-1.5), elevated cholesterol (PR=1.3, CI=1.1-1.5), and obesity (PR=1.3, CI=1.1-1.5). Persons in households with incomes <$25,000 had a higher prevalence of diabetes (PR=2.1, CI=1.5-2.9), tobacco use (PR=1.6, CI=1.4-1.8), and hypertension (PR=1.4, CI=1.2-1.7). No disparities were found by geographic location or sex. Numbers for race and ethnicity were too small for meaningful analysis Conclusions: To meet the national goal of eliminating disparities, interventions to control CVD in New Hampshire should target persons with £12 years of education and persons of lower income. To assess racial and ethnic disparities, the number of respondents from minority groups needs to be increased in the state's BRFSS, or alternate data sources should be identified.
Learning Objectives: Recognize the importance of health disparities in a small non-ethnically diverse population. Describe the relationship of education, socio-economic status and health behaviors in identifying disparities. Recognize implications for states with similar demographics.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Surgeon General's Report
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.