This study examined trends in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors among U.S. older adults and workers. We also investigated correlations between the temporal prevalence of CVD and selected risk factors (hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and treated diabetes) among participants.
Data were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2018) for U.S. adults aged ≥50 years (N=207,539), of which 84,180 were employed. Temporal trends in prevalence were assessed by fitting weighted regression models to the age-standardized prevalence to the 2010 U.S.
The relationship between temporal prevalence of CVD with each risk factor was assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient.
Among all older adults, the prevalence of CVD significantly declined (β=-0.16, p<0.001) during 2004-2018; similar decline was observed among employed adults (β=-0.16, p=0.001). Temporal prevalence in CVD was positively correlated to physical inactivity (r=0.73, p=0.002) and smoking (r=0.81, p<0.001), but not to any of the other risk factors.
Among employed adults aged ≥50 years, the prevalence of CVD, physical inactivity, and smoking dramatically declined over the past 15 years. The temporal decline in prevalence of CVD was significantly associated with decline prevalence of physical inactivity and smoking.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

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