About Half of Americans Have Chronic Condition, CDC Report Finds

Forty-five percent of U.S. residents have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, possibly increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a CDC report released on Monday, ABC News reports.

This is the first study conducted by the agency to examine the combined effect of all three conditions (Bass/Salahi, ABC News, 4/26).

The study is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an ongoing study that administers interviews, physical examinations and laboratory tests to participants (Maugh, Los Angeles Times, 4/26).

The results showed that about 3% of adults have all three conditions, while 13% have two (ABC News, 4/26).

The report also found that about 15% of adults with one or more of the conditions have not been diagnosed.

Blacks were most likely to have high blood pressure, while whites were most likely to have high cholesterol and Hispanics were most likely to have diabetes. In addition, blacks were more likely to have more than one of the conditions (Los Angeles Times, 4/26).

Experts say the rise in chronic condition rates is likely linked to obesity, which surged after many U.S. residents changed their diet in the 1960s, ABC News reports.

Prevention strategies are critical to reversing the trend, according to ABC News (ABC News, 4/26). Researchers likely will use the report's findings to design interventions (Los Angeles Times, 4/26).