Gender-specific effects of modifiable health risk factors on coronary heart disease and related expenditures

There is a general lack of health-related research focusing on gender-speci fic differences within a working population. This research attempts to addr ess that void. Our study relied on the Health Enhancement Research Organiza tion (NERO) database, which consists of claims, enrollment information, and health risk data for 39,999 employees of six large employers. The research objective was to determine the gender-specific association between coronar y heart disease (CHD) and (1) the prevalence of modifiable health risks and (2) medical expenditures. To accomplish this, the international Classifica tion of Diseases, 9th Revision-Clinical Modification and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify 2452 employees with CHD within the HERO database. these individuals made up the study group which included 66 % male and 34% female participants. Health risk data were obtained from vol untary participation in a health risk appraisal and biometric evaluation pr ovided by the employers. Health risks evaluated were tobacco we, hypertensi on, obesity, elevated cholesterol, high blood glucose sedentary lifestyle, stress, depression, and excessive use of alcohol, Descriptive and multivari ate statistical techniques were used to analyze the NERO database. We found that obesity was the most consistent predictor of CHD. It was number one ( of 10 health risks) in the male and female group, number two in the male-on ly group, and number one in the female-only group. High stress was the seco nd most consistent predictor. There was no such consistency relative to med ical expenditures. This lack of consistency across the male and female grou p relative to the association between health risks and medical expenditures was demonstrated for nearly all other health risks evaluated. This study s uggests that within a group of employees with CHD, there are important simi larities and differences between men and women with respect to the prevalen ce of risk factors and the association between health risks and medical exp enditures.