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Current Fact Sheets

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH PROGRAM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Cardiovascular Disease Program is presently funded at $__________ million.

We support a FY 2002 appropriation of $_______ million for CDC’s Cardiovascular Disease Program. This additional funding would allow CDC to expand the program to additional states, and would strengthen the foundation for a nationwide comprehensive cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention program.

Basic Facts About Cardiovascular Disease

CVD is our nation’s leading cause of death. Nearly 960,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each year. This accounts for more than 41% of all deaths nationally.

About ¼ of the nation’s population live with some form of CVD (high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke).

Ten million Americans are disabled as a result of stroke and heart disease. In 1999, the cost of cardiovascular disease in the US was estimated to be $287 billion.

Nearly 1/5 of all cardiovascular disease deaths annually (194,000 deaths) are attributable to smoking. Smokers have twice the risk of heart attack as nonsmokers.

Sedentary people have twice the risk of heart disease as those who are physically active. More than 20% of the nation’s adults are obese and thus have a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other chronic diseases.

CDC’s Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program

In FY 2000 CDC funded 25 state cardiovascular disease programs, including 21 states at a minimal core level (average award $350,000) and 4 states at a higher comprehensive level (average award $1.25 million). Some states use these funds to address the lack of physical activity and poor nutrition associated with cardiovascular disease by increasing the number of bicycle paths and sidewalks, and by implementing campaigns such as the 5-A-Day program that stress the need for good nutrition. Other states use the funds to conduct research and surveillance so they can more accurately define the burden of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, CDC is working with state and national partners to develop a national comprehensive CVD prevention program plan. CDC and its partners are conducting model programs of CVD risk reduction among high-risk populations, and are addressing racial and ethnic disparities in CVD.

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