51% of Americans with Heart Disease/Risk Say It Lowers Their Productivity at Work, Finds HealthMine Cardiovascular Report
46% Have Lost Measurable Work Days Due to Their Heart Condition or Risk
46% Have Lost Measurable Work Days Due to Their Heart Condition or Risk
DALLAS, March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart disease is a growing, costly burden among insured Americans; 39% report difficulty managing their illness, according to a new report by HealthMine. Fifty-one percent (51%) say it lowers their productivity at work. The report is based on a survey of 501 people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or risk for disease. The results are now available in the HealthMine Cardiovascular Report: The State and Impact of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk.
Poor diet, lack of regular physical activity and other major risk factors for heart disease and stroke are responsible for at least 25 percent of employers' healthcare costs, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). One of the deadliest and costliest chronic conditions Americans face, heart disease bills add up to more than $320 billion in annual healthcare costs and lost productivity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation.
However, wellness programs are making a difference, according to HealthMine's findings and a recent survey by the American Heart Association and Nielsen. Wellness programs can be the first detection point for heart disease and risk. Additionally, employees who participate in workplace health programs are nearly twice as likely to report improved health (61 percent vs. 34 percent) and significantly more likely to report healthy eating (60 percent vs. 33 percent), weight loss (41 percent vs. 27 percent), reduced blood pressure (28 percent vs. 15 percent) and reduced cholesterol (23 percent vs. 14 percent), as a result of program participation (AHA and Nielsen).
Here are the key findings from HealthMine's report:
Top Findings
Health Status: Many people with heart disease/risk had—and continue to have—key risk factors; 73% have high cholesterol, 71% have high blood pressure, 58% are not in a healthy weight range and 26% are smokers.
Health Complications: 74% have at least one other chronic condition. One out of four also struggles with mental illness, diabetes or pre-diabetes, and/or obesity.
Disease Management: 39% report difficulty managing their illness/risk and 46% of those individuals say that knowing the right actions to take is the most difficult aspect of managing their condition.
Impact on Healthcare Costs: 51% say their condition lowers their productivity at work. 20% report having a hospital stay within the past year resulting from their heart problem. One quarter (25%) had to visit the emergency room or urgent care at least once because of their condition.
Wellness Programs: 38% are enrolled in a wellness program, and 43% of those individuals say they discovered their heart condition/risk through their wellness program. 79% of those who participate in their wellness plan say it helps them manage their healthcare costs.
Mobile Health: Just 27% of respondents are using an activity tracker. Only 16% say they are using their tracker to manage their heart condition/risk. Yet 74% of those who do use an activity tracker report the device is helping them cope with their heart condition.
The majority of heart disease is preventable through lifestyle change. But many of those who struggle with the condition don't have the right support or tools.
Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine said, "What Americans don't know about their own health is astonishing; just as astonishing is heart disease's staggering cost." He continued, "Personal clinical engagement has proven to educate and motivate those who are sick to know their numbers and take charge of their chronic disease."
The full report can be downloaded at www.healthmine.com/healthmine-cardiovascular-report-landing.
About the Survey
The HealthMine Cardiovascular Survey queried 501 consumers with known heart disease or risk enrolled in a 2016 health plan, and was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) in the first quarter of 2016. Respondents were screened from 3,175 consumers. Data were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 Years.
About HealthMine
HealthMine, a leading consumer health engagement company, has developed the wellness industry's first and only Personal Clinical Engagement technology platform. HealthMine empowers individuals to make meaning of their health information by automatically collecting clinical data, identifying risk for chronic disease, and setting health goals. Making it easy for consumers to manage their own health, HealthMine provides a personalized health portal available on any device, and delivers tailored recommendations, resources and incentives. HealthMine has more than one million users, and has saved employers and payers more than $100 million in healthcare costs. The company, founded in 2008, is based in Dallas, Texas with offices in San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis.
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SOURCE HealthMine
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