Modifiable high-risk behaviors for cardiovascular disease among family physicians in the United States. A national Survey.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of modifiable high-risk behaviors that contribute to mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease among family physicians in the United States, to examine whether these prevalence rates would differ across geographic regions of the United States, and to determine whether a family history of coronary artery disease differentiated physicians who engage in these high-risk behaviors from those who do not. DESIGN: A mailed self-report survey. SETTING: Family physician members of the American Board of Family Practice. PARTICIPANTS: The survey was mailed to 1500 randomly selected members of the American Board of Family Practice. RESULTS: The response was 62%. The results showed that 97% of the physicians were nonsmokers, 54% engaged in exercise regularly, 36% considered themselves overweight, and 91% knew their lipid profile. Of the respondents, 63% reported having a family physician, 78% reported visiting their physician as needed, and 41% reported having had a physician visit in the past year. Forty-one percent of the physicians reported having a family history of coronary artery disease. There were no notable differences regarding the prevalence of these behaviors across the 5 geographic areas or between respondents with a family history of coronary artery disease and those without such a history. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the respondents as a group engage in health practices that help to prevent cardiovascular disease. However, the frequency of exercise among these physicians is below the recommended level, and efforts should be made in promoting exercise among this population.