The Interaction of Health Behaviors and Cardiovascular Diseases: Investigating Morbidity Risks of Disparities in U.S. Adults
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Chronic diseases are a significant and escalating public health concern in the United States (U.S.) and globally. Chronic co-morbidities such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, other cardiovascular diseases, and asthma are major risk factors for death and disability. Behavioral factors such as smoking, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, and poor dietary habits are among the major risk factors leading to these chronic diseases. Purpose: This study aims to investigate how combinations of unhealthy behaviors are associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases in various populations. Methods: Using data from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we computed multivariable logistic regression models to assess the association of unhealthy behaviors with the risk of chronic diseases. Results: Our results show that compounded score of risky health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, and physical inactivity, as well as other covariates such as older age, being male, previously married, living in a rented house, unemployed, living in non-metropolitan counties, having high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, were associated with experiencing a heart attack, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for behavior-focused population health interventions to lower morbidity and health inequities by showing that unhealthy behaviors and sociodemographic disparities significantly raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Source: Healthcare
Authors: Gulzar H. Shah, Suhail Chanar, Stuart H. Tedders, Kabita Joshi, Kristina Harbaugh
Institution: Georgia Southern University
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W4416718895