State Trends in Health Risk Factors and Receipt of Clinical Preventive Services Among US Adults During the 1990s

Abstract

It is well established that premature mortality can be reduced through changes in health risk factors and timely receipt of clinical preventive services. For instance, there is a strong scientific consensus that tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity, obesity, and failure to use safety belts increase mortality risk^1-6 and that timely receipt of adult immunizations, screening for breast and cervical cancer, and screening for high blood cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of premature death.^7-11