The South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (SC BRFSS) is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) with funding and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) since 1984. The BRFSS questionnaire is modified each year by the CDC with collaboration of the states. The survey asks a variety of behavior-related questions including tobacco and alcohol consumption, exercise, as well as demographic information, access to health care, health awareness, use of preventive services, and other topics. South Carolina also develops specific “State-added questions” to be included in the survey to meet the needs of the state.

South Carolina’s prevalence of poor and fair health was higher than the National median in 2005. In 2005, approximately 18.9% of the adult population of South Carolina did not have health insurance. There was no appreciable difference between genders. One-quarter of African Americans did not have health insurance in 2005 (26.6%). This prevalence was significantly higher than the proportion of Caucasians without health insurance (15.1%). Approximately 17.7% of South Carolina adults responded that they did not have a personal doctor. More males than females reported that they did not have a personal doctor (23.5% versus 12.4%).

Within the adult population of South Carolina, approximately 16.1% could not see a doctor because of cost. The prevalence of adults who do not have health insurance coverage in South Carolina was 3rd ranked amongst the Southeastern States.

Approximately 10.3% of South Carolina adults reported being told by a doctor that they had diabetes. South Carolina’s prevalence for diabetics ranked 2nd among all the states in 2005 and South Carolina’s rate was higher than the national average prevalence. There was no difference in diabetes prevalence rate between genders. Those respondents who were African American (15.4%) had a higher prevalence rate than those respondents who were Caucasian (8.4%). Among South Carolina adults diagnosed with diabetes, 10.0% were diagnosed at less than 30 years of age, an additional 42.2% were diagnosed between 30 and 50, 25.0% were diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 60, and 22.8% were diagnosed over the age of 60. Approximately 29.5% of diabetic South Carolina adults reported that they were taking insulin for their diabetes. 72.9% said they were taking diabetes pills to control their diabetes. About 77.0% of adults who reported having diabetes in 2005 SC BRFSS said they had been checked for hemoglobin ‘A1C’ at least once in the past 12 months by a doctor, nurse or other health professional. Additionally, there were 23.0% of South Carolina adult diabetics who had never had the hemoglobin A1C test or who had never heard of it. Of the South Carolina adult diabetics who responded to the 2005 SC BRFSS, 21.7% reported that a doctor had told them that diabetes had affected their eyes.

Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus or fibromyalgia?

Of the South Carolina adults who responded to this question, 30.8% reported being told by a doctor or health practitioner that they had some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus or fibromyalgia. Female respondents had higher rates of reporting arthritis or a similar condition than males, 34.2% versus 27.1% respectively. South Carolina ranked 4th highest in prevalence of adults with doctor diagnosed arthritis among the ten Southeastern States.

About 25.2% of South Carolina adults reported having had a flu shot in the past year. This number was significantly lower than the average in 2004. More Caucasians (26.7%) than African-Americans (21.5%) reported that they had had a flu shot in the last 12 months. Twenty-nine point six percent of adults aged 55-64 years and 60.9% of adults aged 65 and older said they had had a flu shot in the past 12 months.

23.5% of South Carolina adults reported that they had had a pneumonia shot.

The prevalence of current smoking in South Carolina in 2005 was 22.5%. This ranked the state 15th highest for prevalence rate of current smokers overall in the nation. Males (25.3%) were more likely to be current smokers than females (18.2%). Among current smokers, 55.4% reported having stopped smoking for one day or longer during the past 12 months because they were trying to quit smoking. African- Americans reported attempting to quit smoking (74.2%) more than Caucasians (49.5%). Thirty-six point four percent of South Carolina adult smokers were not advised to quit smoking by a doctor or other health provider in the last 12 months.

31.4% of South Carolina adults reported that they had been told they were hypertensive. African Americans were more likely (36.4%) to report a diagnosis of high blood pressure than Caucasians (29.5%) and those South Carolina residents aged 65 years and older had a higher prevalence of hypertension (62.8%) than those respondents aged 55-64 (50.4%). Of those respondents reported being told they were hypertensive, 81.7% of hypertension patients reported taking medicine for high blood pressure in 2005. South Carolina ranked 3rd highest for prevalence of high blood pressure among the adult population in the United States.

Among those who had blood cholesterol checked, 37.4% were told their blood cholesterol was high. Among those diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, the prevalence of high cholesterol increased with age. The prevalence of high cholesterol increased in the age groups “25-34” to those “55-64”. The results were: “25-34” (17.7%), “35-44” (30.3%), “45-54” (40.3%) and for those “55-64” (52.4%). The prevalence of high cholesterol among adults in South Carolina has been increasing. The prevalence of high cholesterol among adults in South Carolina was 33% higher in 2005 than it was in 2001.

Approximately 29.1% of respondents were obese and 35.5% were considered overweight. A predominant proportion (66.5%) of respondents had a weight problem; that is, they were overweight, obese or underweight. More males were observed to be overweight (41.8%) than females (29.4%). Females are more likely (39.7%) to be of recommended BMI range than males (27.1%). Approximately 80.1% of people had received no advice about their weight. Forty-five point seven percent of South Carolina adults reported they were trying to lose weight in 2005. More females than males (52.3% versus 38.5%) reported that they were trying to lose weight. South Carolina ranked 3rd highest for prevalence of adult obesity in the United States.

If you would to discuss a potential clinical study opportunity with Coastal Carolina Research Center please contact:

Nathan Morton
Director of Business Development
Phone #: 843-856-3784
Fax #: 843-856-3788
Email: nmorton@coastalcarolinaresearch.com

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