SEDENTARY LIFE-STYLE AND STATE VARIATION IN CORONARY HEART-DISEASE MORTALITY

Using linear regression, the authors demonstrated a strong association between State-specific coronary heart disease mortality rates and Sta te prevalence of sedentary lifestyle (r2 = 0.34; P = 0.0002) that rema ined significant after controlling for the prevalence of diagnosed hyp ertension, smoking, and overweight among the State's population. This ecologic analysis suggests that sedentary lifestyle may explain State variation in coronary heart disease mortality and reinforces the need to include physical activity promotion as a part of programs in the St ates to prevent heart disease.