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In 2009-2010, approximately 46.5 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 and over had at least one of three risk factors for heart disease and stroke, according to a report released on Friday, Aug. 3 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The three risk factors are uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, or current smoking.

Between 1999 and 2010, the percentage of adults aged 20 and over with uncontrolled high blood pressure or uncontrolled high levels of LDL-C declined. During the same time period, the percentage of adults who smoked cigarettes did not decrease significantly. Among adults aged 20 and over, 25.1 percent of adults were current smokers, 23.3 percent had uncontrolled high LDL-C, and 11.8 percent had uncontrolled high blood pressure.

The report's authors say while there has been much decline in risk factors, there is still much more work to be done. 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are all risk factors that could lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke. 

The report also should that there was a decreasing trend in the number of adults with at least one risk factors. In 1999-2000, about 109 million adults had at least one risk factor compared to 102.5 million in 2009-2010. The decreasing trend was found among both men and women. Among men, this decrease occurred in age groups 40-59 and 60 and over. For women, the decreasing trend was found only among those aged 60 and over, from 78.3 percent in 1999-2000 to 53.9 percent in 2009-2010.

In 2009-2010, men - 51.6 percent - were more likely than women - 41.2 percent - to have at least one of the three risk factors for CVD. Having at least one of three CVD risk factors did not significantly differ by age group among men. Women aged 60 and over - 53.9 percent - were more likely to have at least one of the three CVD risk factors compared with women aged 40-59 - 40.5 percent - or 20-39 - 34.4 percent. 

Non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American adults also showed some improvement with a significant decrease in the number of those with at least one of the three risk factors for heart disease. 

However, the percentage of non-Hispanic black persons with one of three CVD risk factors remained stagnant and was higher than the percentages of non-Hispanic white or Mexican-American persons. In 2009-2010, almost 58 percent of non-Hispanic black adults had at least one risk factor, while about 47 percent of non-Hispanic white adults and almost 45 percent of Mexican-American adults had at least one of the three risk factors for CVD.