MMWR News Synopsis for July 31, 2014

Prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Among Workers Aged <55 Years — United States, 2008–2012

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Groups of workers with increased risk for coronary heart disease and stroke (CHD/stroke) might especially benefit from a Total Worker Health program that combines control of known occupational CHD/stroke risk factors (e.g., job stress) with health promotion activities (e.g., smoking cessation programs). Certain groups of workers are at increased risk for coronary heart disease and stroke (CHD/stroke before the age of 55). These include workers in service and blue collar occupations, and those employed in administration and support, waste management and remediation services and accommodation and food service industries.  These groups might especially benefit from an employer-sponsored Total Worker Health program that combines control of known occupational CHD/stroke risk factors (e.g., job stress) with health promotion activities (e.g., smoking cessation programs).  Clinicians should consider the potentially increased risk for CHD/stroke in their working-age patients and take occupation and industry into account when developing prevention and treatment plans.

Little Filtered Cigar, Cigarillo, and Premium Cigar Smoking Among Adults — United States, 2012–2013

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Cigar smoking is increasing in the United States. New data in this report can help inform interventions to reduce the public health impact from cigar smoking. In the United States, cigarette consumption declined during 2000–2011; however, consumption of cigars more than doubled during the same period. A recent analysis from the 2012–2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS) found that more than one in 20 U.S. adults smoke cigars "every day," "someday," or "rarely." This report expands upon those findings, using data from the 2012–2013 NATS to further characterize cigar smokers by the usual type of cigar smoked using the following categories: little filtered cigars (LFCs), cigarillos/other mass market cigars (cigarillos/MMCs), and premium cigars. The findings indicate that among U.S. adult cigar smokers, 61.8 percent usually smoke cigarillos/MMCs, 19.9 percent usually smoke premium cigars, and 18.4 percent usually smoke LFCs.

Notes from the Field:

• Outbreak of Pertussis in a School and Religious Community Averse to Health Care and Vaccinations — Columbia County, Florida, 2013

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES