CDC National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program

Idaho
Capacity Building

The Idaho State Department of Health began receiving funds from CDC in 2007 to support a state heart disease and stroke prevention program.

Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke

• Nearly 1 out of 4 deaths in Idaho are due to heart disease. (Source: National Vital Statistics Report, 2009.)
• 2,399 Idahoans died from heart disease in 2006 (22.6 percent of total deaths in Idaho). (Source: National Vital Statistics Report, 2009.)
• 725 Idahoans died from stroke in 2006 (6.8 percent of total deaths in Idaho). (Source: National Vital Statistics Report, 2009.)

See the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Idaho─June 2009, and Idaho Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Report and Burden of Stroke in the Pacific Northwest—August 2008, [PDF-323K] for more burden statistics.

• According to 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey results, adults in Idaho reported the following risk factors for heart disease and stroke—
  
  • 25.9% had high blood pressure
  • 37.6% of those screened reported having high blood cholesterol
  • 7.9% had diabetes
  • 19.1% were current smokers
  • 63.1% were overweight or obese (Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 25.0)
  • 44.2% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days
  • 77.7% 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 signs and symptoms of heart diseases and stroke, the urgency of early treatment for heart disease and stroke, and the need to call 9-1-1.

State Highlights

The Idaho Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (IHDSP) program has made significant progress toward achieving the goals and objectives of the Idaho Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention state plan. Through collaboration with the Idaho Diabetes Prevention and Control (IDPCP) program, the Idaho Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) program, and others, capacity to address heart health is increasing in Idaho.

• Focus groups and in-depth interviews with providers showed a gap in education regarding guidelines for the control of high blood pressure. To meet this need, the program adapted a DVD to reinforce provider knowledge of the Joint Commission guidelines for managing high blood pressure. The IHDSP program and the IDPCP program will work with the American Heart Association, hospitals, and other organizations to make the materials available to dentists, emergency medical technicians, and primary care nurses.
• In January 2011, a public survey of knowledge for heart disease and stroke risk factors will launch. The survey builds on the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey questions and will be conducted regionally through a randomized method. Results, compared by region and statewide, will guide chronic disease program collaboration in addressing health disparities that lead to heart disease and stroke. In addition, survey results will help develop a public awareness campaign tailored to knowledge gaps among Idahoans.
• As part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work and Coordinated School Health multi-agency collaboration, the IDHSP program has successfully instituted the same nutritional standards for Iowa school vending machines and á la carte items as for school meals.
• The HDSP program worked to address hospital reports that a significant portion of heart attack patients self-transport to hospitals. The HDSP program implemented a mini-grant program for critical access hospitals to educate about signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke and the importance of calling 911. Collectively, the hospitals held 66 community events and directly reached over 7,000 Idahoans. Print media, radio spots and interviews, hospital displays, and newsletters were used to market campaign messages.
• In December 2010, a “signs and symptoms” awareness print campaign was piloted in libraries. The campaign may expand to 50 libraries in 2011, if the pilot test shows libraries to be a promising venue.
• In 2010, improved treatment guidelines for heart attacks were developed through collaboration amongst Emergency Medical Services (EMS) medical directors. The program’s goal is for each EMS agency to incorporate these guidelines into its medical supervision plans, which will lead to improved outcomes for Idahoans.

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