news release
ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive JOSHUA LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director of Communications

CONTACT: SUSAN TOLCHIN (914) 995-2932

MARY LANDRIGAN (914) 813-5013

(914) 813-5000 (After Hours)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2004

WESTCHESTER COUNTY RECEIVES HIGH MARKS ON

HEALTH REPORT CARD

The results are in and, for residents of Westchester County, the health-risk indicators are looking good, according to a report of the New York State Expanded Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS.) The newly released Expanded BRFSS report shows that residents of Westchester County are less likely than those of other counties to engage in some behaviors that put their health at risk and more likely to take actions that protect their health.

One key area in which Westchester’s report card is exemplary is smoking prevention. Outside of New York City, Westchester has the lowest number of current, everyday smokers in the State (as a percentage of population) and the highest number of smokers attempting to quit. Westchester is also third highest in the State for the number of people reporting that they have never smoked.

“This is a very encouraging report card,” said Joshua Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health for Westchester County. “The tremendous energy and resources we put into helping people stop smoking, or avoid starting, has paid off. In the long run, this will bring dramatic returns in reduced health care costs and improved quality of life for our people.”

In recent years, Westchester County spent millions of dollars in programs to discourage smoking, earning the County an A-grade from the American Lung Association for its efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls tobacco use, “the leading preventable cause of death,” resulting in more than 440,000 deaths and over $75 billion in direct medical costs each year in the United States.

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Particularly gratifying is the fact that Westchester has the lowest number of residents in the State (including New York City) who smoke at home. This is important since smoking in the home adversely affects non-smokers in the building, especially children. In 2002, Westchester won a national competition, sponsored by the National Association of Counties, to see which county could generate the most pledges from its residents to keep their homes smoke-free.

“We took this campaign to heart,” said Dr. Lipsman. “Not just for the sake of winning a competition but as an opportunity to promote the concept of smoke-free homes. It seems to have helped.”

Another area in which the Westchester County Health Department efforts have paid off well has been in the promotion of cancer screening. Since 1999, the Health Department’s Colorectal and Prostate Cancer Initiative has provided extensive screenings and cancer prevention education to the community. Home-testing kits to detect colorectal cancer have also been made available free of charge to eligible residents.

The Expanded BRFSS report card ranked Westchester second highest in the State (including New York City) for the number of residents over the age of 50 who ever had received a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. The County also ranked third highest in the State for the number of men aged 40 and older receiving the Prostate Specific Antigen Test (for prostate cancer) within the past two years.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women, with 146,000 new cases expected to be diagnosed this year in the United States. If detected early enough, the survival rate is over 90% but, in its early stages, colorectal cancer offers no obvious symptoms. This is why routine screening is essential.

Prostate cancer is also more easily treatable in its early stages and many lives can be saved through routine screening with a quick and painless blood test. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, claiming 30,000 lives each year.

“Cancer screening saves lives,” said Dr. Lipsman. “You can’t beat having workers out in the field, at church groups and health fairs, reminding people to get checked; making appointments for them; or giving screenings on the spot. It works.”

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The Expanded BFRSS report card also shows that, outside of New York City, Westchester County has:

o The third lowest number of residents in the State who are at risk for binge drinking.

o The lowest number of residents in the State who are considered obese.

o The second lowest number of diagnosed diabetes cases in the State.

o The lowest number of diagnosed cases of arthritis in the State.

o The second highest number of residents in the State, aged 64 or younger, to have received counseling on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases through condom use.

o The highest number of residents in the State, aged 64 or younger, to report using a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse.

“The information in this report card has value for us beyond just the positive feedback on our efforts,” said Dr. Lipsman. “It also will help in assessing needs and developing strategies towards accomplishing our goals for the future health of Westchester residents.”

One area of continuing need in Westchester is HIV/AIDS prevention. Despite increased counseling and condom use, Westchester continues to have a high rate of HIV infection.

The Expanded Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is an on-going program to collect county-specific data on behavioral factors that put people at risk for chronic disease, injury and preventable infectious diseases. Data is collected through a random-digit dialing telephone survey of residents 18 years of age and older. The program is supported by a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by individual states. In New York State, 38 counties or groupings of counties were surveyed.

For additional information, call the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000 or visit our website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

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