Health Survey Program Division of Research and Epidemiology

A Profile of Health among Massachusetts Adults: 2000-2001

Highlights from the Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Health Survey Program Division of Research and Epidemiology

Bureau of Health Statistics, Research and EvaluationMassachusetts Department of Public Health

September 2003

Source: Health Survey Program, Division of Research and Epidemiology Bureau of Health Statistics, Research and Evaluation, MDPH

2

Overview

• What is the BRFSS?

• Selected topics

- Health Risks

- Preventive Health Behaviors

- Health Conditions

• Summary


3

What is the BRFSS?

• Random digit dial telephone survey

• Adults ages 18 and older

• Collaboration between CDC and States

• Massachusetts BRFSS since 1986

• Data are weighted: provide population-based

estimates of health

• Sample Size: 7,000 - 8,000 annually

BRFSS

TOBACCO

CANCER SCREENING

DRUG &ALCOHOL

ASTHMACHOLESTEROL

NUTRITION& EXERCISE

HEALTH CARE ACCESS

HYPERTENSION

DIABETES

50 OTHER TOPICS

WEIGHT

Selected Topics

• Weight, Nutrition & Physical Activity

• Cancer Screening

• Smoking

• Chronic Disease Prevalence

• Hypertension and Cholesterol


6

Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity Massachusetts, 2001

30

5154

17

0

15

30

45

60

75

fruit & vegconsumption *

regular physicalactivity

overweight obesity

perc

enta

ge (

%)

* 2000 data

Overweight Obesity

Height BMI 25.0-29.9 BMI > 30

5’ 128 lbs. 153 lbs.

5’2’’ 136 164

5’4’’ 145 174

5’6’’ 155 186

5’8’’ 164 197

6’ 184 221

Overweight and Obese by Height

Overweight Obesity

Height BMI 25.0-29.9 BMI > 30

5’ 128 lbs. 153 lbs.

5’2’’ 136 164

5’4’’5’4’’ 145145 174174

5’6’’ 155 186

5’8’’ 164 197

6’ 184 221

Overweight and Obese by Height


9

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults Who Are Obese by Sex and

Race/Ethnicity, 2001

16 15

32

23

17 18 19 19

0

10

20

30

40

50

Total White* Black* Hispanic Asian*

perc

enta

ge (

%)

Women Men

MA average

**

* non-Hispanic

** insufficient numbers


10

Percentage of Adults Who Are Overweight by EOHHS Health Service Region, Massachusetts 2001

< 53.1%

53.1% - 55.7%

> 55.7%

Western 55.5%

Central 57.3%

Southeast 57%

Metrowest 50.5%

Northeast 56.5%

Boston 49.8%

Massachusetts 54.4%


11

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults Who Reported Regular Physical Activity in the

Past Month, by Race/Ethnicity, 2001

53

40 42 42

0

15

30

45

60

75

White* Black* Hispanic Asian*

perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average

*non-Hispanic


12

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults Ages 25+ Who Reported Regular Physical Activity in the

Past Month, by Education and Sex, 2001

34

4349

55

35

5056

49

0

15

30

45

60

75

< High School High School College 1-3yrs

College 4+ yrs

perc

enta

ge (

%)

Women Men

MA average


13

Cancer ScreeningMassachusetts, 2001

84

45

6469

0

20

40

60

80

100

mammogram inpast two years*

sigmoidoscopyor colonoscopyin past 5 yrs**

PSA in pastyear***

DRE in pastyear***

per

cen

tag

e (%

)

* women 40+ (2000)

** adults 50+

*** men 50+


14

Percentage of Women Ages 40+ Who Had a Mammogram in the Past Two Years, by

Race/Ethnicity, 2000

84 87 89

0

20

40

60

80

100


perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average

* non-Hispanic


**


15

Percentage of Women Ages 18+ Who Received a Pap Smear in the Past 3 Years,

by Race/Ethnicity, 2001

91 87 88

0

20

40

60

80

100


perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average

**

* non-Hispanic



16

Percentage of Massachusetts Women Ages 18+ Who Received a Pap Smear in the Past 3

Years, by Household Income, 2001

85 8693 97

89

0

20

40

60

80

100

<$25,000 $25-34,999 $35-49,999 $50-74,999 $75,000+

perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average


17

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults Ages 50+ Who Had a Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy in the

Past 5 Years, by Race/Ethnicity, 2001

4644

34

0

10

20

30

40

50


perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average

**

* non-Hispanic



18

Percentage of Current Smokers by Age Massachusetts 2001

2824

2016

11

5

22

0

10

20

30

40

50

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average


19

Percentage of Current Smokers by Household Income, Massachusetts 2001

2528

19

13

23

0

10

20

30

40

50

<$25,000 $25-34,999 $35-49,999 $50-74,999 $75,000+

perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average


20

Percentage of Current Smokers by EOHHS Health Service Region, Massachusetts 2001

< 18.5%

18.5% - 20.5%

> 20.5%

Western 24.3

Central 22

Southeast 21.5

Metrowest 15

Northeast 18.4

Boston 18

Massachusetts 19.5


21

Chronic Disease PrevalenceMassachusetts, 2001

6

8

0

5

10

15

diabetes heart disease*

perc

enta

ge (

%)

* adults 35+


22

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults with Diabetes, by Household Income, 2001

9

7

43

5

0

2

4

6

8

10

<$25,000 $25-34,999 $35-49,999 $50-74,999 $75,000+

perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average


23

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults Ages 35+ Who Had a Heart Attack, Angina, or Coronary

Heart Disease, by Household Income, 2001

16

10

65

8

0

5

10

15

20

25

<$25,000 $25-34,999 $35-49,999 $50-74,999 $75,000+

perc

enta

ge (

%)

MA average


24

Hypertension and Cholesterol Massachusetts, 2001

72

81

0

20

40

60

80

100

taking Rx for high bloodpressure

cholesterol checked in pastfive years

pe

rce

nta

ge

(%

)


25

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults with High Blood Pressure Who Took Blood

Pressure Medication, by Race/Ethnicity, 2001

73 71

59

0

20

40

60

80

100


pe

rce

nta

ge

(%

)

MA average

**

* non-Hispanic



26

Percentage of Massachusetts Adults Who Had Their Cholesterol Checked in the Last 5

Years, by Race/Ethnicity, 2001

8375

7165

0

20

40

60

80

100


pe

rce

nta

ge

(%

)

MA

average

* non-Hispanic


27

Percent Change for Selected Indicators

Massachusetts 1990-2001 1990 (%) 2001 (%) % Change

Worse

overweight 40 54 + 35%

Better

5+ fruits/vegetables 25 31* + 24%

mammogram 68** 84* + 24%

colorectal screening 27*** 45 + 67%

current smoking 24 20 - 17%

*2000 **1992 ***1993


28

Summary Massachusetts is doing well when compared to other states:

- cholesterol checks (the best in US) - current smoking (4th best) - obesity (2nd best)

- breast cancer screening (3rd best) - colorectal cancer screening (9th best)

- prostate cancer screening (DRE 2nd, PSA 6th) There is still room for improvement. We have not yet met Healthy People 2010 Objectives for: - smoking

- obesity- diabetes


29

Summary

Disparities in health risks and preventive health behaviors exist in Massachusetts with regard to age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and geography:

- chronic disease prevalence higher in low income groups - overweight/obesity higher among Black and Hispanic women - smoking higher in Western, Central and Southeast regions in Massachusetts


30

Contents of BRFSS Reports

* Percent estimates of key variables by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and health service region

* Trends over time

* Comparisons of MA data to: - National median - Healthy People 2010 objectives


31

How to obtain these data?

For access to reports and data:

* Visit BRFSS web site: http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bhsre/cdsp/brfss/brfss.htm * MassCHIP: 2000 and 2001 BRFSS data will be available late in 2003

For more information about BRFSS, please contact: Zi Zhang, Director of Health Survey Program Tel: (617) 624-5623 E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bhsre/cdsp/brfss/brfss.htm












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Health Survey Program Division of Research and Epidemiology