Heart Disease

Resources

Basic InformationMore InformationLatest News

Diet Pill Meridia Ups Heart Attack Risk: StudySomatic Depression Symptoms Show Heart Risk LinkSertraline May Not Be Effective for Depression in Heart FailureHostile, Competitive Types May Be Harming Their HeartsRed Meat May Boost Women's Heart Disease RiskTough Childhoods May Contribute to Adult Heart DiseaseChildhood Cancer May Be Linked to Later Heart ProblemsFDA Puts Partial Hold on Avandia Safety StudyWomen at Greater Risk From Serious Angina Than Men: StudyAvandia Raises Heart Risk But Should Stay on Market, FDA Panel FindsFDA Panel Seems Skeptical Over Key Avandia DataObstructive Sleep Apnea Tied to Heart Failure Risk in MenFDA Advisory Panel Decision on Avandia LoomsAnxiety Disorders, Heart Disease a Bad Combination: StudyFetal Genes May Be Linked to Certain Heart Disease in AdultsHigher Testosterone Tied to Heart Trouble in Older MenCommon Pain Relievers Raise Heart Risk for Healthy FolksAmniotic Stem Cells Promising for Cardiac RegenerationLess Frequent Toothbrushing Linked to Heart DiseaseDepression Key Consideration in Acute Coronary SyndromeGene Mutation Linked to Congenital Heart DiseaseAHA: Employee Health Program Improves Heart HealthTalk With Doctor Helps Heart Attack Patients Resume SexOvertime Boosts Heart Attack RiskHigh-Pressure Jobs Tied to Heart Disease Risk in WomenDepression After Heart Attack Tied to Brain ChangesRecall Issued for LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/DefibrillatorArteries Age Twice as Fast in SmokersNearly Half of U.S. Adults Have Heart Risk FactorsAntidepressants May Improve Heart HealthEarly Defibrillation Boosts Survival in Cardiac ArrestMoney Worries Delay Heart Attack TreatmentYoga Benefits African-American Heart Failure PatientsPlavix Can Help Cut Death Risk in Certain Heart PatientsLow-Fat Diet May Not Reduce Cardio Risks After MenopauseNewer Blood Thinner Beats Plavix for Bypass PatientsBlood Vessels Bounce Back Once Smokers QuitTreat Women With Heart Attack Just Like Men: StudyErectile Dysfunction Plus Heart Disease Raises Death RiskMany WTC Responders Show Signs of Heart TroublePsoriasis Tied to Raised Heart RiskBlacks, Hispanics With Heart Failure Less Likely to Use HospiceFatigue Found Predictive of Cardiovascular Events in ESRDHearts of Hospice Patients Being Needlessly ShockedWeight Loss Found to Reduce Carotid Artery Wall ThicknessYou Can't Exercise Away TV's Toll on the HeartRoutine Heart Tests for Athletes Would Save LivesFuture Heart Disease May Be in Store for Obese KidsCutting Off Blood Flow Limits Damage During Heart AttackHappiness Protects Your Heart

Questions and AnswersLinks

Related Topics

Health Sciences
Medical Disorders

AHA: Employee Health Program Improves Heart Health

by -- Monica Smith
Updated: May 21st 2010

new article illustration

FRIDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Workers participating in a large employee health program experienced improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, which resulted in lower cardiovascular-related medical and hospital costs in relation to total medical costs, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke 2010 Scientific Sessions, held May 19-21 in Washington, D.C.

Kenneth Glover, M.S., of CSX Transportation in Jacksonville, Fla., and colleagues analyzed 2006-2008 data on 5,768 participants in an employee health promotion program developed by CSX Transportation to address cardiovascular disease. The program included biometric screenings, nutrition and exercise coaching, and on-site fitness centers.

The researchers found that the mean total cholesterol in employees with dyslipidemia declined from 196.4 to 185.2 mg/dL, HDL increased from 38.7 to 42.1 mg/dL, the total cholesterol/HDL ratio decreased from 5.5 to 4.9, and employees reaching LDL goals increased from 48 percent to 62.4 percent. In employees with hypertension, mean blood pressure decreased from 137.2/86.1 to 125.4/80.2 mm Hg, and achievement of blood pressure goals rose from 42.5 percent to 67.4 percent. The percentage of employees with cardiovascular-related medical claims declined from 56.6 percent to 48.3 percent, and the percentage of employees with cardiovascular-related hospital claims declined from 6 percent to 4.3 percent. Cardiovascular-related hospital claims declined from 2.5 percent to 1.7 percent.

"As a result of the program, cardiovascular-related medical and hospital costs both declined significantly relative to total medical costs," the authors conclude.

One study author is an employee of Pfizer.

This article: Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.