The Cardiovascular Disease Index

Localizing disparities in cardiovascular health

 

What is the CVD Index?

The Cardiovascular Disease Index (CVD Index), an initiative of the National Minority Quality Forum, provides on-demand evaluation and mapping of CVD prevalence nationwide and by region, state, county, metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and by federal and state legislative district, as well as by age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Users may create customized maps depicting CVD prevalence and total counts to support educational, advocacy and public-affairs initiatives.

 

Why the CVD Index?

Minorities in the United States experience disparities in cardiovascular health that include higher rates of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, and stroke.  The purpose of the CVD Index is to locate areas in the country where CVD prevalence is high, or where large numbers of people with CVD reside, as well as to identify affected and at-risk population groups.

 

What are the data sources and methodology of the CVD Index?

The CVD Index uses data from the following sources:

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 2000 through 2009
  (sociodemographic characteristics of persons with cardiovascular disease)
• 2000 US Census data are used to obtain estimates at the zip-code-tabulation-area level for age, gender, and race/ethnicity, percentage living in rural areas, percentage of highest level education obtained, percentage living in poverty, as well as the total population of each zip-code tabulation area in the United States

The National Minority Quality Forum applies small-area analysis to the data to identify CVD disparities and produce CVD Index maps.

 

What do CVD Index maps show?

Users may generate color-coded maps that depict levels of CVD prevalence nationwide and by region, state, county, metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and by federal and state legislative district. They may differentiate CVD prevalence further by age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

 

How do users access the CVD Index?

A simple registration is all that is required for you to access the CVD Index.

 

To Register Right Now, CLICK HERE

 

Already Registered?  CLICK HERE