Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

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Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

State Program: West Virginia
Basic Implementation

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources began receiving funds from CDC in 1999 to support a heart and stroke prevention program. The program received increased funding for basic implementation beginning in 2003.

Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in West Virginia, accounting for 6,189 deaths or approximately 29% of the state's deaths in 2002. (National Vital Statistics Report 2004;53(5)).

Stroke is the third leading cause of death, accounting for 1,260 deaths or approximately 6% of the state's deaths in 2002. (National Vital Statistics Report 2004;53(5)).

According to Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey results in 2005, adults in West Virginia reported having the following risk factors for heart disease and stroke:

31.4% had high blood pressure
39.9% of those screened reported having high blood cholesterol

In 2006,

12.1% had diabetes
25.7% were current smokers
67.0% were overweight or obese (Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 25.0)
25.6% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate collaboration among public and private sector partners, such as managed care organizations, health insurers, federally funded health centers, businesses, unions, school systems, priority population organizations, and emergency response agencies.

Define the heart disease and stroke burden and assess existing population-based strategies for primary and secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke within the state.

Update the comprehensive state plan for heart disease and stroke prevention with emphasis on developing heart-healthy policies, changing physical and social environments, and eliminating disparities (e.g., based on geography, gender, race or ethnicity, or income).

Identify culturally appropriate approaches to promote cardiovascular health with 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.

Support health care organizations system changes to assure quality of care and implementation of primary and secondary prevention for heart disease and stroke.

Monitor, implement, and evaluate prevention strategies and programs in health care sites, work sites, communities, and schools.

Provide training and technical assistance to public health, health care professionals, and partners to support primary and secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke.

Monitor quality of care for primary and secondary prevention.

State Highlights

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack Social Marketing Campaign
In partnership with St. Mary's Hospital Heart Center, the West Virginia Cardiovascular Health Program has developed this campaign to increase the awareness on the part of the public of heart attack symptoms and specifically how they differ between men and women. The campaign was piloted in one rural county in Southern West Virginia. Follow–up telephone survey results yielded a significant increase in the knowledge level of citizens in that county regarding the interpretation and response to heart attack signs and symptoms. The campaign will be expanded to at least three more West Virginia communities in the future.

Ebenezer Medical Outreach
An outgrowth of Ebenezer United Methodist Church, this community–based organization coordinates a chronic disease management program focused on diabetes and hypertension. It is located in a medically underserved community with 39% African Americans, a 17% unemployment rate and 30% of it's households living below poverty. Among ninety–four initial participants, Ebenezer saw a drop in average blood pressure from 153ml/Hg to 137ml/Hg, a drop in Hemoglobin A1C levels, a drop in total cholesterol and in body mass index. In addition, a Quality of Life Questionnaire administered to the participants showed an average increase from 440 to 460. This year Ebenezer was nationally recognized from a pool of over two hundred applicants as winner of the $90,000 Monroe E. Troutman Premier Cares Award. As a result of previous work in Raleigh County, the CVH Program facilitated Ebenezer's efforts to develop a similar program by contacting key community leaders and accompanying Ebenezer staff to the initial planning meetings. Currently, the CVH Program provides funding for the organization to strengthen health ministries at churches in Cabell County.

The West Virginia Restaurant Survey
This survey was developed, implemented, and evaluated in years 2001—2002. The goal of the survey was to establish baseline data on the percentage of restaurants that have identified healthy food choices on their menus. Results indicated 9% of restaurants surveyed had identified healthy choices on their menus. As a follow–up to the survey, a partnership with the WV Hospitality and Travel Association has been formed. A program ("The Winner's Circle Healthy Dining Program") to train community level individuals to work with restaurants in increasing the number of identified healthy choices on menus has been identified. Current efforts include establishing a community network through affiliated networks to support this project.

Wheeling Walks Program
Targeting walking is an ideal approach to the promotion of physical activity. The Wheeling Walks Program truly saturated the community with the walking message. More than 170 television, radio, and newspaper news stories reported on Wheeling Walks during the eight–week intervention. Self-report measures indicated that the intervention achieved high levels of exposure in the target group. Over 85% of the intervention community respondents indicated that they had heard about the Wheeling Walks campaign. Walking behavior increased significantly in Wheeling after the campaign.

Additional resources on heart disease and stroke in West Virginia:

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State Program: West Virginia Basic Implementation

State Highlights

State Program: West Virginia
Basic Implementation