During the past 3 decades, blood pressure and cholesterol control among US stroke survivors improved, but rates of obesity, poor diet, and physical inactivity increased, according to a recent study. Furthermore, stroke survivors who are black, poor, or less educated are less likely to have ideal cardiovascular health. Among 67,514 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2014, 1,597 adults (≥18 years) had self-reported history of stroke. American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple (LS7) metrics were categorized as poor, intermediate, and ideal; ideal LS7 scores were calculated (1 point for each ideal metric met). Researchers found:

• The proportion with low LS7 score increased from 17.9% in 1988 to 1994 to 35.4% in 2011 to 2014.
• During that time frame, prevalence of poor blood pressure (≥140/90 mm Hg) and poor cholesterol (≥240 mg/dL) decreased, whereas prevalence of poor body mass index (≥30 kg/m²), poor diet (healthy eating index score <50), and poor physical activity (0 minutes moderate/vigorous activity per week) increased.
• After adjustment, black race, poverty income ratio ≤200%, and ≤12th grade education were associated with low ideal LS7 scores.