Prevalence of Angina Pectoris: An Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Database.

BACKGROUND

Angina pectoris remains a significant public health concern, highlighting disparities in cardiovascular health influenced by demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors. Analyzing the prevalence of trends is crucial to addressing health inequities and informing targeted interventions. The study of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2019 to 2023 allowed us to observe how the pandemic affected cardiovascular care utilization when it decreased in 2020 and later rebounded into 2023 while investigating shifts in reported angina prevalence rates among main groups. Angina pectoris condition-related research requires assessment of current trends for effective health inequities intervention and targeted intervention planning.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the prevalence of angina pectoris among United States (US) adults from 2019 to 2023 and across demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors.

METHOD

Data from the NHIS were analyzed to determine the prevalence of angina pectoris, which was identified through self-reported diagnosis or symptoms. The identification of angina pectoris in the NHIS dataset was based on self-reported physician diagnosis alongside responses to definite survey questions regarding chest pain and discomfort consistent with the symptoms of angina. Angina pectoris was identified in the NHIS dataset based on self-reported physician diagnoses and responses to specific survey questions on chest pain or discomfort consistent with angina. Stratified analyses assessed variations in prevalence across key demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors over a five-year period. The statistical analyses included both inferential analyses and descriptive statistics, including hypothesis testing and confidence interval estimation, to evaluate associations and divergences within the data. The prevalence of angina was evaluated across socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic groups using stratified analyses.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of angina pectoris remained stable (1.5-1.7%) from 2019 to 2023. Higher rates were observed among males (1.8%), older adults (4.5% in those aged 75 years and older), and US-born individuals (1.6%). Disparities observed across race/ethnicity further revealed disparities, with American Indian/Alaska Native individuals (2.1%) and Black individuals (1.2%) showing distinct patterns. Geographic trends highlighted a higher prevalence in areas with high social vulnerability (1.7%). Socioeconomic disparities were notable, with lower-income individuals (<100% federal poverty level (FPL)) experiencing higher prevalence (2.8-3.1%) and elevated rates among those with lower educational attainment. Employment status influenced prevalence, with unemployed individuals showing higher rates (3.4%).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of angina pectoris reflects persistent disparities across demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors. The findings highlight the need for policies that enhance access to preventive cardiovascular care, early screening, and intervention, as well as address the social determinants of health, to minimize disparities in underserved populations.