Cardiovascular health among Philadelphia adolescents: analysis of youth risk behaviour data, 2011

Cardiol Young. 2014 Aug;24(4):748-51. doi: 10.1017/S1047951113001121. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

Abstract

Improving population-level cardiovascular health is a public health priority. Guided by the American Heart Association's metrics for ideal heart health, we examined the prevalence of behavioural heart health indicators using a representative sample of urban adolescents. Less than 1% (0.6%) of the sample had ideal heart health. The alarmingly low percentage of ideal behavioural heart health suggests that primary prevention approaches to address cardiovascular health in youth are warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Diet / statistics & numerical data*
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Status Indicators*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Philadelphia / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking
  • Smoking / epidemiology*