Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Individuals Incarcerated in an Arizona County Jail.

Ricky Camplain,Monica R Lininger,Robert T Trotter,Julie A Baldwin

doi:10.3390/ijerph18137007

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity among a sample of individuals incarcerated in an Arizona county jail and compare prevalence estimates to a matched non-institutionalized population. From 2017–2018, individuals housed at a county jail completed a cross-sectional health survey. We estimated the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, overweight/obesity, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, and self-reported health among individuals incarcerated. We compared prevalence estimates of cardiovascular risk factors to a matched sample of 2017–2018 NHANES participants. Overall, 35.9%, 7.7%, and 17.8% of individuals incarcerated in jail self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, respectively. Of individuals incarcerated, 59.6% were overweight or obese and 36.8% self-reported fair or poor general health. Over half of individuals incarcerated reported ever smoking cigarettes (72.3%) and binge drinking (60.7%). Compared to a matched sample of NHANES participants, individuals incarcerated in jail had a statistically higher prevalence of cigarette smoking and binge drinking. Screening of cardiovascular risk factors and providing preventive measures and interventions, such as healthy eating, physical activity, or pharmacological adherence interventions, while individuals are incarcerated may contribute to the prevention and management of cardiovascular risk factors and, eventually, cardiovascular disease.

Highlights

An estimated 12% of American adults have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and by 2030, 44% of the US population is projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease with direct medical costs expected to reach $818 billion [1]
A small proportion of participants from Coconino County Detention Facility (CCDF) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reported that a physician or health professional had told them they had cardiovascular disease
We found that a higher proportion of individuals incarcerated in a rural Arizona county jail reported hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, and fair or poor general health compared to a matched non-institutionalized sample, incarceration status was only associated with cigarette smoking and binge drinking health behaviors

Summary

Introduction

An estimated 12% of American adults have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and by 2030, 44% of the US population is projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease with direct medical costs expected to reach $818 billion [1]. While cardiovascular disease affects the total US population, inequities exist in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease; among racial/ethnic minorities [2,3] and individuals of low socioeconomic status [4]. As 60% of incarcerated populations are ethnic and belong to racial minorities [5] and are disproportionately of low education and low income backgrounds [6], they may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease compared to non-institutionalized populations [7,8]. Contributing to risk of cardiovascular disease may be underlying risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, type II diabetes (diabetes), high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption that disproportionately affect racial/ethnic minorities and individuals of a low socioeconomic status [9,10,11,12].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion