Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105971

Marie P. Beaudet, PhD, Statistics Canada, Health Statistics Division, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6, Canada, 613-951-4598, beaumar@statcan.ca and Isabelle Pronovost, Research Data Centres, Statistics Canada, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC K1A 0T6, Canada.

Smoking, inactivity and obesity are modifiable risk factors. The incentive to modify them provided by a new diagnosis of a heart-related condition is comparatively less explored. Data from five cycles of the longitudinal component of the Canadian National Population Health Survey were used to examine the relationship between a new diagnosis of diabetes, heart disease (including stroke) and high blood pressure and change in smoking, inactivity and obesity in a two-year interval among respondents 18 or older. Change in each individual risk factor for each new diagnosis was analyzed and separate logistic regression models were fitted for each sex. Control variables included age, marital status, household income, educational attainment, activity limitations, depression and emotional support. The bootstrap technique was used to estimate the variances. A new diagnosis of heart disease or of high blood pressure was an incentive to stop smoking (OR=0.37, c.i.=0.21, 0.64 and OR=0.65, c.i.=0.45, 0.93 respectively) but was not associated with a higher likelihood of becoming active or reaching a BMI in the acceptable range. A new diagnosis of diabetes was not associated with a change in any of the modifiable risk factors studied. Low education and low income were negatively related to adopting a healthier behaviour and emotional support was consistently associated with a higher likelihood of adopting one. A new diagnosis of a serious health problem is not a strong wake-up call. Persons with poor health behaviours are not told, are unsuccessful at changing or do not understand the modifiable nature of these behaviours.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, participants should be able to recognize vulnerable groups, the engrained nature of some behaviours and the potential modifying role of a new diagnosis of a heart-related chronic condition.

Keywords: Health Behavior, Heart Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation