MAPP Heart Age Assessment Tool

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

A 2006 local needs assessment identified cardiovascular disease as a priority health concern in McHenry County. Utilizing a community-based, strategic planning model (MAPP: Mobilizing for Action through Planning and partnership) designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, McHenry County Department of health (MCDH) partnered with several local organizations to design a screening tool to assess one’s “real heart age. The goal was to educate residents about the damaging effects of heart disease to compel corrective action. The “heart age” tool based on the Framingham Heart Study’s “risk score,” measured the primary risk factors of cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index (as an obesity indicator). During its first year, the tool was administered to 854 McHenry County residents aged 30+ by hospital and MCDH staff, supported by MCDH’s Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, at 18 community health fairs and screening events. Educational literature about healthier lifestyles (American Heart Association), smoking cessation programs at MCDH and the hospitals and healthy eating (DASH diet – National heart Lung Blood Institute) were also provided to participants.