Geographic and Economic Patterns in Health Risks and Behaviors Highlights from the 2002 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Health Survey Program Division of Research and Epidemiology Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Massachusetts Department of Public Health April 2004

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Overview oWhat is the BRFSS? oSelected topics - by income - by geographic region oSummary

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation What is the BRFSS? oRandom digit dial telephone survey oAdults ages 18 and older oCollaboration between CDC and States oMassachusetts BRFSS since 1986 oData are weighted: provide population-based estimates of health oSample Size: 7, ,000 annually

BRFSS TOBACCO CANCER SCREENING DRUG & ALCOHOL ASTHMA CHOLESTEROL NUTRITION & EXERCISE HEALTH CARE ACCESS HYPERTENSION DIABETES 50 OTHER TOPICS WEIGHT

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Topics to be Covered oHealth Insurance Coverage oOverweight or Obesity oPhysical Activity oFruits & Vegetables oCurrent Smoking oAsthma oColorectal Cancer Screening oBreast Cancer Screening oSocial Support in Coping with Terrorism

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation No Health Insurance

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation No Health Insurance

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation No Health Insurance oOverall, 8% of respondents report having no health insurance oThose with an income <$25,000 are least likely to be insured oResidents of the Southeast, Boston, and Western regions report the highest rate of being uninsured oThe percentage of adults reporting no health insurance coverage decreases with increasing education oHispanics, Blacks, and Asians are least likely to have health insurance

Overweight Obese Height BMI BMI > 30 5’128 lbs.153 lbs. 5’2’’ ’4’’ ’6’’ ’8’’ ’ Overweight or Obese by Height

Overweight Obese Height BMI BMI > 30 5’128 lbs.153 lbs. 5’2’’ ’4’’ ’6’’ ’8’’ ’ Overweight or Obese by Height

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Overweight or Obese

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Overweight or Obese

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Overweight or Obese oOverall, 55% of respondents are overweight or obese oRates of overweight or obesity do not show significant variation by income oResidents of the Western, Central, and Northeast regions report the highest rate of overweight or obesity oMen are more likely than women to be overweight or obese oAsians are least likely to be overweight or obese, Blacks and Hispanics most likely

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Regular Physical Activity

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Regular Physical Activity

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Regular Physical Activity o51% of respondents report regular physical activity in the past month oRegular physical activity increases with income oResidents of the Central and Northeast region report lowest rates of physical activity oMales are more likely to report regular physical activity than females oHispanics and Asians are least likely to report regular physical activity

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation 5+ Fruits and Vegetables per Day

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation 5+ Fruits and Vegetables per Day

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation 5+ Fruits and Vegetables per Day oOverall, 30% of respondents report consuming 5+ servings of fruit and vegetables per day oFruit and vegetable consumption is lowest among those with lowest income oFruit and vegetable consumption is lowest in the Northeast region oWomen are more likely than men to report consuming 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables per day oFruit and vegetable consumption increases with increasing education and age

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Current Smoking

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Current Smoking

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Current Smoking oOverall, 19% of respondents are current smokers oCurrent smoking rates are highest in the Northeast, Southeast, Central, and Boston regions oCurrent smoking rates are highest among the lowest levels of income oCurrent smoking decreases with increasing age and education oThe percentage of adults who are current smokers has decreased over time

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Current Asthma

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Current Asthma oOverall, 9% of Massachusetts adults report current asthma oAsthma rates tend to be higher in the Western and Southeast regions oHispanics have the highest rates of current asthma

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Colorectal Cancer Screening* *Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, includes adults ages 50+

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Colorectal Cancer Screening* *Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, includes adults ages 50+

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Colorectal Cancer Screening oOverall, 46% of Massachusetts adults age 50+ report having had a screening in the past 5 years oThose with an income below $25,000 have the lowest rate of screening oResidents of the Northeast and Western region have the lowest screening rates oMen are more likely than women to have had a screening in the past 5 years oHispanics are less likely than those in other race/ethnicity groups to have had a screening in the past 5 years

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Breast Cancer Screening* *Mammogram in the past 2 years, includes women ages 40+

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Breast Cancer Screening *Mammogram in the past 2 years, includes women ages 40+

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Breast Cancer Screening o83% of women ages 40+ report having had a mammogram in the past 2 years oMammography rates increase with income oResidents of the Central and Boston regions report the lowest rate of mammography oMammography rates are similar among race- ethnicity groups oWomen with less education are less likely to have had a mammogram in the past 2 years

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Social Support in Coping with Terrorism

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Social Support in Coping Terrorism

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Social Support in Coping with Terrorism oOverall, 64% of respondents report sufficient support oFemales are more likely to report sufficient support oThose with lower income are less likely to report sufficient support oResidents of the Western, Central, and Northeast region are least likely to report sufficient support oBlacks and Hispanics are least likely to report sufficient support

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation Summary oMetro West performs well on most indicators oThere is variation throughout Western, Southeast, and Boston regions oNortheast and Central regions tend to face more challenges oAdults with lower household income report less access to health care, higher rates of risk factors for chronic disease, and lower rates of cancer screenings

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation DPH uses these data to: oHelp inform state and local health departments and the general public about health risks and behaviors oTarget available resources to geographic areas at greater risk oAssist and inform policy makers, programs, and health care providers about health related disparities

Source: 2002 Massachusetts BRFSS, Health Survey Program Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research, and Evaluation How to obtain these data? For access to reports and data: Visit the BRFSS website: MassCHIP: 2002 BRFSS data will be available late in 2004 For more information about BRFSS, please contact: Zi Zhang, Director of Health Survey Program Tel: (617)