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

Abstract #117946

Connie Chang, MBA, Local Market Team, Pfizer,Inc, 620 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139, Monalisa Patnaik, RPh, Clinical Education Consultant, Pfizer,Inc, 24 Raleigh Rd, Holliston, MA 01746, 508-479-9597, monalisa.patnaik@pfizer.com, and Barbara Perry, MPH, RPh, Pfizer,Inc, Clinical Education Consultant, 10 Eastbrook Rd, Mansfield, MA 02048.

A number of studies have shown that lifestyle interventions can help prevent high blood pressure and reduce blood cholesterol levels. Overweight and obesity are growing public health problems, affecting adults, adolescents, and children. These persons are at increased risk of illness from high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, type-2 diabetes, CHD, stroke, and other diseases.

Begun in 1999, The Boston Heart Party (BHP) is a collaborative effort between Pfizer, Inc., employer groups, hospitals/community centers, and physician groups in the Boston area intended to raise awareness of the importance of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the leading cause of mortality in women. This annual call-to-action campaign provides awareness and is a resource to the community in the form of free CVD risk factor screenings, educational materials, and the opportunity for one-on-one consultation with a healthcare professional in the following areas: –Cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose (non-fasting) –Encourage follow-up with physicians where appropriate Over the past 6 years, the BHP has screened and educated over 25,000 male and female participants on their risks of heart disease. This report discusses the success of a public health campaign, its appeal to a diverse population, and the aggregate CV screening results of BHP participants in comparison to national benchmarks.

Efforts to prevent overweight and obesity by promoting heart-healthy behaviors through wide reaching community based public health initiatives such as the BHP are effective vehicles in providing education and outreach on CVD.

Learning Objectives: