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. 2012 Dec 20;9:E177. doi: 10.5888/pcd9.120143

State Variations of Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Older Americans

Stacey L Tannenbaum 1,, Diana Kachan 1, Cristina A Fernandez 1, Laura A McClure 1, William G LeBlanc 1, Kristopher L Arheart 1, David J Lee 1
PMCID: PMC3528304  PMID: 23256910

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine and compare 3 key health behaviors associated with chronic disease (ie, risky drinking, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle). We used data from the National Health Interview Survey from 1997 through 2010 to calculate the prevalence of these behaviors among older Americans and rank each state, and we analyzed overall trends in prevalence for each behavior over the 14 years. Older adults residing in Arkansas and Montana had the worst chronic disease risk profile compared with other states. These findings indicate the need for improved or increased targeted interventions in these states.

Objective

Risky drinking, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle are key health behaviors associated with chronic disease and increased illness and death in older adults (1). Excessive drinking is associated with cancers of the liver, head and neck, colorectum, pancreas, and breast, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes (2). Smoking is associated with cancer and poor cardiovascular outcomes (1). Cardiovascular disease and cancer risk are increased by sedentary behavior (1). The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and trends of these 3 health behaviors among older Americans and rank them at the state level to determine the best allocation of public health resources.

Methods

Data were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual, cross-sectional, multistage probability household survey of the noninstitutionalized civilian US population, from 1997 through 2010. Eligibility criteria were adults aged 65 or older (N = 79,973; representing 34,632,575 people). NHIS questions regarding the 3 variables are available online (3). Smoker was defined as “current smoker” (4). Risky drinking was defined as current drinkers having 10 or more drinks per week in men and 7 or more drinks per week in women, or having 5 or more drinks on 1 occasion, 1 or more times per year for men and women (4). Physical activity level was defined as compliance with the Healthy People 2010 goal of moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day on 5 or more days per week or vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes per day on 3 or more days per week (5).

NHIS data were pooled and analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina), adjusting for sample weights and design effects (3). We calculated prevalence, standard errors (SEs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and ranked states according to the prevalence of each risk factor indicator. We analyzed trends by using weighted linear regression of prevalence on year. Weight was generated with the inverse of the variance of prevalence. Some states were missing values because they did not meet the criteria for stable estimate analysis in all study years (6).

Because state-level data are not released to the public, all analyses were performed remotely at the National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center. The study was approved by the University of Miami’s institutional review board.

Results

The prevalence of smoking among US adults aged 65 years or older was 9.6% (Table 1). States with the highest smoking prevalence were Nevada (17.9%) and Kentucky (15.0%). States with the lowest rates of smoking were Utah (5.4%) and South Dakota (6.2%). Overall, 22% of older Americans reported risky drinking patterns; Arizona and New Hampshire had the highest prevalence, both at 29.0%, and the lowest prevalences were found in Kansas (14.4%) and Oklahoma (16.4%) (Table 2). Twenty-two percent of older Americans reported meeting physical activity recommendations; the highest prevalence was reported in Colorado (30.8%), Hawaii (34.8%), and Maine (40.1%), and the lowest prevalence was reported in Louisiana (13.4%), Mississippi (13.4%), and South Dakota (14.6%) (Table 3). Older Americans residing in Arkansas and Montana were in the top 10 worst rankings for all 3 behaviors.

Table 1. State-Specific Prevalence of Smoking a for Older US Adults: Pooled Data From the 1997–2010 National Health Interview Survey.

State N Prevalence, % (95% CI) SE Rankb
All 79,973 9.6 (9.3–9.8) 0.1 NA
Alabama 1,536 9.4 (8.1–10.8) 0.7 23
Alaskac 73 5.3 (2.6–10.5) 1.9 1
Arizona 1,429 10.2 (7.8–13.1) 1.3 32
Arkansas 965 13.4 (10.3–17.3) 1.8 46
California 8,355 7.6 (6.9–8.3) 0.4 8
Colorado 927 10.2 (8.5–12.3) 1.0 32
Connecticut 1,037 7.5 (6.2–9.1) 0.8 6
District of Columbiac 205 9.1 (4.6–17.3) 3.1 20
Delaware 218 11.8 (7.5–17.9) 2.6 44
Florida 6,158 8.2 (7.2–9.3) 0.5 12
Georgia 1,863 10.0 (8.5–11.6) 0.8 29
Hawaiic 478 7.2 (3.6–13.8) 2.5 5
Idaho 309 10.7 (8.8–13.0) 1.1 35
Illinois 3,351 9.2 (8.1–10.4) 0.6 21
Indiana 1,697 13.4 (11.8–15.1) 0.9 46
Iowa 872 8.3 (6.9–9.9) 0.8 13
Kansas 794 11.2 (9.0–13.7) 1.2 42
Kentucky 1,151 15.0 (12.7–17.6) 1.3 50
Louisiana 1,189 11.0 (9.4–12.7) 0.9 40
Maine 458 10.0 (6.8–14.5) 2.0 29
Maryland 1,255 11.5 (9.2–14.2) 1.3 43
Massachusetts 1,847 9.9 (8.0–12.1) 1.0 27
Michigan 2,777 9.9 (8.8–11.1) 0.6 27
Minnesota 1,239 8.8 (7.4–10.3) 0.8 17
Mississippi 830 9.2 (6.7–12.4) 1.4 21
Missouri 1,771 10.9 (9.1–13.0) 1.0 38
Montana 306 13.9 (10.2–18.9) 2.2 49
Nebraska 613 7.5 (5.6–10.0) 1.1 6
Nevada 474 17.9 (14.1–22.5) 2.1 51
New Hampshirec 322 11.1 (5.8–20.2) 3.5 41
New Jersey 2,467 8.9 (7.8–10.3) 0.6 18
New Mexico 767 12.2 (8.8–16.7) 2.0 45
New York 5,460 8.6 (7.8–9.5) 0.4 16
North Carolina 2,303 9.0 (7.9–10.2) 0.6 19
North Dakota 263 8.1 (5.9–11.0) 1.3 11
Ohio 3,343 10.2 (8.9–11.7) 0.7 32
Oklahoma 1,033 10.9 (8.9–13.2) 1.1 38
Oregon 996 7.7 (6.3–9.5) 0.8 9
Pennsylvania 3,765 9.7 (8.6–10.8) 0.5 26
Rhode Islandc 261 7.0 (3.7–13.0) 2.3 4
South Carolina 1,225 9.6 (8.7–10.6) 0.5 24
South Dakota 293 6.2 (3.7–10.2) 1.6 3
Tennessee 1,517 10.8 (8.6–13.5) 1.2 36
Texas 5,196 10.8 (9.9–11.8) 0.5 36
Utah 522 5.4 (3.4–8.4) 1.3 2
Vermont 149 7.7 (4.9–11.7) 1.7 9
Virginia 1,994 10.0 (8.6–11.7) 0.8 29
Washington 1,441 9.6 (7.7–11.9) 1.1 24
West Virginia 579 8.4 (6.5–10.9) 1.1 14
Wisconsin 1,737 8.5 (7.1–10.1) 0.8 15
Wyoming 163 13.7 (9.9–18.6) 2.2 48

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SE, standard error; NA, not applicable.

a

Defined as current smoker.

b

States with the same ranking indicate identical prevalence estimates; in these instances, the subsequent state skips a number in ranking and continues.

c

Prevalence estimate considered statistically unreliable with a relative SE of 30% or more or sample size of fewer than 50 (6).

Table 2. State-Specific Prevalence of Risky Drinking a for Older US Adults: Pooled Data From the 1997–2010 National Health Interview Survey.

State N Prevalence, % (95% CI) SE Rankb
All 31,432 22.0 (21.4–22.6) 0.3 NA
Alabama 324 19.8 (14.8–25.9) 2.8 18
Alaskac <50 29.9 (11.8–57.6) 12.4 51
Arizona 677 29.0 (25.3–32.9) 1.9 49
Arkansas 197 26.1 (19.3–34.4) 3.9 42
California 3,702 23.8 (21.9–25.9) 1.0 35
Colorado 453 21.4 (17.5–25.8) 2.1 26
Connecticut 534 17.4 (14.5–20.7) 1.6 6
District of Columbiac 81 20.6 (10.0–37.4) 7.0 22
Delaware 110 16.9 (12.0–23.4) 2.9 5
Florida 2,947 24.1 (22.3–25.9) 0.9 38
Georgia 497 18.5 (14.7–23.0) 2.1 9
Hawaii 145 27.2 (18.0–38.8) 5.3 45
Idaho 114 23.0 (13.6–36.1) 5.8 32
Illinois 1,362 22.6 (19.6–26.0) 1.6 30
Indiana 517 23.9 (18.7–30.1) 2.9 37
Iowa 403 22.6 (18.1–27.9) 2.5 30
Kansas 266 14.4 (9.5–21.3) 3.0 2
Kentucky 241 18.8 (12.4–27.5) 3.8 13
Louisiana 339 25.3 (18.9–33.0) 3.6 41
Maine 220 27.3 (21.7–33.7) 3.0 47
Maryland 527 20.8 (17.0–25.2) 2.1 24
Massachusetts 917 23.3 (19.1–28.2) 2.3 34
Michigan 1,209 22.1 (19.5–24.9) 1.4 28
Minnesota 658 21.2 (18.3–24.3) 1.5 25
Mississippi 163 18.5 (12.9–26.0) 3.3 9
Missouri 634 16.7 (13.2–20.9) 2.0 4
Montana 180 27.2 (19.1–37.3) 4.7 45
Nebraska 266 18.6 (15.6–21.9) 1.6 12
Nevada 239 20.2 (15.2–26.2) 2.8 19
New Hampshire 167 29.0 (20.7–39.0) 4.7 49
New Jersey 1,144 18.8 (16.3–21.5) 1.3 13
New Mexico 279 23.8 (19.5–28.8) 2.4 35
New York 2,341 20.7 (19.1–22.5) 0.9 23
North Carolina 531 22.5 (17.5–28.3) 2.8 29
North Dakotac 115 13.9 (6.2–28.2) 5.4 1
Ohio 1,154 19.3 (16.8–22.1) 1.3 15
Oklahoma 257 16.4 (11.7–22.5) 2.8 3
Oregon 491 26.9 (21.6–32.9) 2.9 44
Pennsylvania 1,682 18.5 (16.0–21.3) 1.4 9
Rhode Island 131 24.9 (17.4–34.4) 4.4 40
South Carolina 332 21.8 (18.1–25.9) 2.0 27
South Dakota 106 18.2 (11.6–27.5) 4.0 8
Tennessee 374 19.5 (14.6–25.7) 2.8 16
Texas 1,598 26.2 (23.6–28.9) 1.4 43
Utah 132 20.4 (13.7–29.3) 4.0 21
Vermont 86 20.3 (18.5–22.2) 0.9 20
Virginia 664 24.6 (20.9–28.7) 2.0 39
Washington 722 23.0 (19.0–27.5) 2.2 32
West Virginia 113 19.7 (14.1–27.0) 3.3 17
Wisconsin 988 17.8 (16.1–19.7) 0.9 7
Wyoming 70 28.0 (18.8–39.5) 5.3 48

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SE, standard error; NA, not applicable.

a

Defined as 10 or more drinks per week in men and 7 or more drinks per week in women, or 5 or more drinks on 1 occasion 1 or more times per year for both men and women.

b

States with the same ranking indicate identical prevalence estimates; in these instances, the subsequent state skips a number in ranking and continues.

c

Prevalence estimate considered statistically unreliable with a relative SE of 30% or more or sample size of fewer than 50 (6).

Table 3. State-Specific Prevalence of Meeting Physical Activity Recommendations a for Older US Adults: Pooled Data From the 1997–2010 National Health Interview Survey.

State N Prevalence, % (95% CI) SE Rankb
All 74,470 22.0 (21.6–22.5) 0.2 NA
Alabama 1,427 19.9 (17.1–22.9) 1.5 32
Alaska 62 20.9 (14.6–29.0) 3.7 29
Arizona 1,340 27.0 (24.8–29.3) 1.1 8
Arkansas 908 15.1 (10.4–21.4) 2.8 47
California 7,839 26.9 (25.4–28.3) 0.7 11
Colorado 876 30.8 (26.7–35.3) 2.2 3
Connecticut 966 26.3 (22.0–31.2) 2.4 14
District of Columbia 191 24.0 (17.5–40.4) 4.6 19
Delaware 206 27.5 (16.2–34.1) 5.9 7
Florida 5,814 26.6 (24.2–29.1) 1.2 12
Georgia 1,743 16.3 (14.3–18.5) 1.1 45
Hawaii 457 34.8 (27.5–42.9) 4.0 2
Idaho 290 22.7 (18.6–27.5) 2.3 24
Illinois 3,103 21.4 (19.6–23.4) 1.0 28
Indiana 1,585 15.1 (12.8–17.6) 1.2 47
Iowa 820 25.1 (22.5–28.0) 1.4 15
Kansas 749 23.5 (19.2–28.4) 2.3 21
Kentucky 1,062 15.5 (13.1–18.4) 1.4 46
Louisiana 1,120 13.4 (10.0–17.7) 2.0 50
Maine 436 40.1 (33.0–47.6) 3.7 1
Maryland 1,176 22.8 (20.0–25.7) 1.5 23
Massachusetts 1,727 22.3 (19.2–25.7) 1.6 26
Michigan 2,535 22.9 (20.6–25.5) 1.3 22
Minnesota 1,153 27.6 (25.2–30.1) 1.3 6
Mississippi 763 13.4 (8.8–19.8) 2.8 50
Missouri 1,648 19.6 (17.2–22.3) 1.3 35
Montana 284 17.7 (14.2–21.8) 2.0 43
Nebraska 578 20.5 (14.5–28.2) 3.5 30
Nevada 449 22.6 (18.1–27.9) 2.5 25
New Hampshire 305 27.0 (19.7–35.7) 4.1 8
New Jersey 2,293 18.2 (15.9–20.7) 1.2 38
New Mexico 723 23.7 (19.3–28.8) 2.4 20
New York 4,970 19.7 (18.3–21.2) 0.7 34
North Carolina 2,204 18.7 (16.3–21.3) 1.3 37
North Dakota 246 19.5 (14.8–25.1) 2.6 36
Ohio 3,051 17.7 (16.0–19.5) 0.9 43
Oklahoma 937 18.2 (13.8–23.5) 2.5 38
Oregon 870 26.4 (22.1–31.3) 2.3 13
Pennsylvania 3,433 19.9 (18.0–21.5) 0.8 32
Rhode Island 246 21.6 (16.2–28.2) 3.0 27
South Carolina 1,163 17.8 (14.5–21.6) 1.8 42
South Dakota 279 14.6 (9.6–21.7) 3.0 49
Tennessee 1,420 18.1 (16.0–20.4) 1.1 40
Texas 4,916 20.3 (18.7–21.9) 0.8 31
Utah 496 28.5 (23.2–34.4) 2.9 5
Vermont 134 27.0 (17.7–38.9) 5.5 8
Virginia 1,849 24.2 (22.0–26.6) 1.2 18
Washington 1,338 29.8 (26.7–33.0) 1.6 4
West Virginia 519 17.9 (14.0–22.5) 2.2 41
Wisconsin 1,617 25.0 (23.0–27.1) 1.0 16
Wyoming 154 24.9 (16.8–35.3) 4.7 17

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SE, standard error; NA, not applicable.

a

Moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day on 5 or more days per week or vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes per day on 3 or more days per week.

b

States with the same ranking indicate identical prevalence estimates; in these instances, the subsequent state skips a number in ranking and continues.

A downward trend in smoking was observed during the 14 years for California (slope, −0.32; SE, 0.09; P = .004) and South Carolina (slope, −0.54; SE, 0.21; P = .046), and an increased trend for risky drinking was observed in Massachusetts (slope, 1.07; SE, 0.39; P = .026). In North Carolina (slope, 0.82; SE, 0.25; P = .007) and Texas (slope, 0.57; SE, 0.16; P = .004), an upward trend in exercise compliance was observed. Trend analysis was not conducted for 7 states and the District of Columbia due to insufficient sample sizes.

Discussion

The average age of Americans is expected to increase substantially in the coming years (7). Modifying key health behaviors and creating cost-effective interventions may contribute to decreasing illness and death in this growing population demographic (8).

Lifestyle changes that occur with aging can affect chronic disease risk. Older adults who exercise regularly have a reduced mortality risk (9), but those who drink alcohol excessively are more prone to oxidative stress, which further increases the incidence of chronic disease (10). A twofold higher mortality rate was shown for older male smokers than nonsmokers (11). Risky drinking with aging has been positively associated with vigorous physical activity and negatively associated with current smoking, possibly reflecting better health among adults who engage in risky drinking as they age (12). Nevertheless, excessive alcohol consumption is associated with risk of falls (1) and adverse medication interactions in older Americans (10).

Limitations of this study included an inability to use estimates from all states due to small sample sizes or unstable estimates in some states (ie, a relative SE of ≥30%). We were unable to conduct complete trend analyses for all states given sample size limitations. The strength of this study was the access to a large set of sample data at the state level for prevalence comparisons in older Americans.

Public health resources should focus on specific interventions to affect behaviors in states with residents at high risk for developing chronic disease. These resources can include a purposeful combination of the following: 1) increasing tobacco excise taxes, proven to be the most effective means to decrease smoking (1), 2) using online and telephone substance abuse treatment facility locators and media campaigns to disseminate information on alcohol abuse (1), and 3) enhancing access to recreational and physical activity facilities in communities specific to older Americans, pursuant to the Healthy People 2010 guidelines (5). Emphasis on geographic aggregation of risk factors should be considered so that integrated and tailored prevention activities can be developed and customized to each state’s profile and funds be made appropriately available. States with the highest prevalence of 2 or 3 risky behaviors should review resource allocation to promote health more effectively.

Acknowledgment

This study was fully funded by Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program grant no. 1BG06-341963.

Footnotes

The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions.

Suggested citation for this article:Tannenbaum SL, Kachan D, Fernandez CA, McClure LA, LeBlanc WG, Arheart KL, et al. State Variations of Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Older Americans. Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:120143. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd9.120143.

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