Published: May 19, 2008 11:50 pm            

Hearts find Terre Haute unfriendly

Only one city rates worse in population market

TERRE HAUTE — One woman dies almost every minute from heart disease, and in Terre Haute, risk factors for the disease are some of the highest in the nation, according to a recent study.

The study, commissioned by the American Heart Association, and conducted by Sperling’s Best Places, ranked the nation’s most and least heart-friendly cities for women, based on personal health, lifestyle and environmental risk factors.

Terre Haute ranked second of the “least heart friendly” cities with a population of 560,000 and fewer.

With below-average scores for cardiac mortality and rate of prescriptions for control of hypertension and cholesterol, and with a high rate of cigarette smoking, Terre Haute finished 129th out of 130 cities in its population category.

Dr. Rajendra Desai, a cardiologist with AP&S clinic in Terre Haute, said he was not entirely surprised by the findings.

Desai, who has practiced medicine in Terre Haute for 22 years, said his office has seen an increase in patients with cardiovascular disease.

He attributes some of the problem to lifestyle factors in the city.

“I think our lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle is number one,” Desai said. “There is not much emphasis on exercise … that is a very important risk factor.”

He added that the socioeconomic status of much of the population in Terre Haute could be partially to blame.

“I think definitely there is a correlation between socioeconomic status and health care,” Desai said. He added that poverty and unemployment can contribute because people with no health insurance don’t go to the doctor. Even those with health insurance may not go for regular checkups because they don’t want to pay for medicine or doctor’s visits, he said.

Education and public service announcements regarding the importance of exercise and the risk factors of heart disease are several things a community can do to improve outcomes for its citizens, Desai said.

The study focused on the 200 largest metro areas in the United States, which are home to nearly 75 percent of the nation’s population. It analyzed 22 factors for each location in the categories of risk indicators, health status and heart disease statistics in the population.

The cities were categorized in terms of population: “mega metros” (population 1.45 million and larger); “mid-size metros” (population between 560,000 and 1.45 million); and “all other metros” (population of 560,000 and fewer).

Terre Haute received scores similar to those received by Nashville, Tenn., and Birmingham, Ala.

The study determined that the city needs improvement in the areas of cardiac mortality, cigarette smoking, health plan coverage, healthy eating, regular exercise, routine checkups and smoke-free legislation, among others.

None of the Indiana cities featured in the study finished anywhere near the top of the “most heart friendly” cities list. Indianapolis was ranked 10th of the “least heart friendly” cities in the mega metros category.

Deb Kelly can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.kelly@tribstar.com.

        

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