Notes

This is Healthy New Jersey 2020 (HNJ2020) Objective HDS-3. Data for Whites, Blacks, and Asians do not include Hispanics. Hispanics ethnicity includes all races. All prevalence estimates are age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]

Data Interpretation Issues

Data from the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey are intended to represent non-institutionalized adults in households with telephones. Data are collected using a random sample of all possible telephone numbers. Prior to analysis, data are weighted to represent the population distribution of adults by age, sex, and "race"/ethnicity. As with all surveys, however, some residual bias may result from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions) and measurement error (e.g., social desirability or recall). Attempts are made to minimize such error by use of a strict calling protocol (up to 15 calls are made to reach each household), good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision. Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process. These methodological changes were implemented to account for the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample (which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones). Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution. (More details about these changes can be found at [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6122a3.htm].)

Definition

Proportion of adults aged 18 and older who have had their blood cholesterol checked by a health professional within the past five years.

Numerator

Number of persons aged 18 and over interviewed for this survey who reported that they have had their blood cholesterol level checked in the past five years

Denominator

Total number of persons aged 18 and older interviewed during the same survey period

Healthy People Objective: Increase the proportion of adults who have had their blood cholesterol checked within the preceding 5 years

U.S. Target: 82.1 percent (age-adjusted)
State Target: 86.7 percent (age-adjusted)

Other Objectives

'''Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective HDS-3''': Increase the proportion of adults who have had their blood cholesterol checked within the preceding 5 years to 86.7% for the total population, 89.4% among Whites, 88.4% among Blacks, 75.6% among Hispanics, and 89.1% among Asians.

How Are We Doing?

In 2017, approximately 90% of New Jersey adults have had their blood cholesterol checked by a health professional within the past five years. Whites (88.4%) have a significantly lower prevalence of cholesterol screenings compared to Asians (93%), Blacks (91.3%) and Hispanics (90.7%).

What Is Being Done?

The National Diabetes Education Program has instituted the ABC campaign which promotes the screening for A1c (blood glucose), Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol as monitoring measures to help control diabetes and heart disease. Heart disease is a major complication of diabetes and the Department of Health has suggested that target values for A1c , Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol be established by health providers in partnership with patients based on their individual circumstances.

Health Program Information

NJDOH Chronic Disease Program: [http://nj.gov/health/fhs/chronic/index.shtml]