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29% at Risk of Stroke, Heart Disease, Study Says

Posted on: Saturday, 30 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

More than one in four adults in Los Angeles County is at significant risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke, a Department of Health Services study released Thursday says.

The random telephone survey of more than 8,100 adults, conducted in 2002-03, analyzed five major risk factors for cardiovascular disease - hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. It found that at least 29 percent, or 1.7 million adults, have two or more of those risk factors.

Heart disease already is the leading cause of death in the county, health officials said, estimating that the disease costs $10 billion to $15 billion a year in medical and lost-productivity costs.

"The large number of adults in the county with multiple risk factors suggests that heart disease and stroke are likely to remain among the leading causes of premature death and disability over the next several decades without major prevention efforts," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health.

The study found that the percentage of people with two or more risk factors varied significantly by race, with the highest among African- Americans at 44 percent; followed by Latinos, 32 percent; whites, 25 percent; and Asian-Pacific Islanders, 21 percent.

Geographically, the percentage of people with two or more risk factors was the highest in South Los Angeles, 38 percent, and the Antelope Valley, 37 percent. It was lowest on the Westside, at 19 percent.

Health officials also noted that the percentage of people with two or more risk factors was affected by education and household income.

For example, 39 percent of adults living below the federal poverty level reported multiple risk factors, compared with 24 percent among those living at or above 300 percent of the poverty level.

Among adults with two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, 16 percent said they had not been to a health care provider in the past year, 18 percent reported having no health insurance, and 12 percent did not have a regular source of health care.

A spokesman for the Southern California chapter of the American Heart Association said Thursday that the organization suggests preventive measures including healthy eating, exercise, not smoking and regular doctor visits.

Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

Source: Daily News; Los Angeles, Calif.

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