CDC National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program

New Jersey
Capacity Building

The New Jersey Department of Public Health began receiving funds from CDC in 2008 to support a state heart disease and stroke prevention (HDSP) program.

Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke

• More than 1 out of 4 deaths in New Jersey are due to heart disease. (National Vital Statistics Report, 2009).
  
• 19,548 New Jerseyites died from heart disease in 2006 (27.8 percent of total deaths in New Jersey). (National Vital Statistics Report, 2009.)
  
• 3,468 New Jerseyites died from a stroke in 2006 (4.9 percent of total deaths in New Jersey). (National Vital Statistics Report, 2009.)
• According to 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey results, adults in New Jersey reported the following risk factors for heart disease and stroke—
  
  • 28.2% had high blood pressure
  • 38.6% of those screened reported having high blood cholesterol
  • 9.2% had diabetes
  • 17.1% were current smokers
  • 62.3% were overweight or obese (Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 25.0)
  • 51.9% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days
  • 72.5% ate fruit and vegetables less than 5 times a day

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate collaboration among public and private sector partners, such as managed care organizations, health insurers, federally funded health centers, businesses, priority population organizations, and emergency response agencies.
• Define the burden of heart disease and stroke and assess existing population-based strategies for primary and secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke within the state.
• Develop and update a comprehensive state plan for heart disease and stroke prevention with emphasis on heart-healthy policies development, physical and social environments change, and disparities elimination (e.g., based on geography, gender, race or ethnicity, or socioeconomic status).
• Identify culturally appropriate approaches to promote heart disease and stroke prevention among racial, ethnic, and other priority populations.
• Use population-based public health strategies to increase public awareness of the heart disease and stroke urgency, the signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke, and the need to call 9–1–1.

State Highlights

• The New Jersey Chronic Disease Advisory Council was developed in response to a need for a more integrative approach to chronic disease in the state. The Council consists of members from health care organizations, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services programs, professional organizations, and minority health groups. The Council is currently developing the state chronic disease plan, organizing an integrated Chronic Disease Summit, and completing an assessment of policies and activities supporting efforts in improving heart disease and stroke prevention and care.
• In a related effort, the New Jersey Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program coordinates a state-level chronic disease steering committee that addresses the National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program priority areas, as well as related risk factors. This integration effort involves the following New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services programs
  
  • Tobacco Cessation
  • Maternal Child Health
  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  • Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
  • Diabetes Prevention and Control
  • Cancer Control
  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • Asthma Prevention and Control
  • Office of Aging Cancer Education and Early Detection, Early Intervention, and Screening
  • Emergency Medical Services Office of Primary Care
  • Office of Nutrition and Fitness
  • Office of Health Care Quality and Assessment
  • Office of Local Health
  • Certificate of Need
    

  The first product of this steering committee will be a statewide chronic disease strategic plan. A draft of the chronic disease strategic plan is expected in fall 2011.

For more information on heart disease and stroke prevention in the state, visit the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Web site.

To view county-by-county data, visit our interactive map site.