MMWR News Synopsis for August 24, 2017

Use of Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Heart Attack Survivors — 20 States and the District of Columbia, 2013 and Four States, 2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is an evidenced-based intervention that reduces future heart attacks – yet it is underused. Health-system interventions to promote cardiac rehab referral and use, supported by access to affordable rehab programs within the community, should be prioritized to improve outcomes and prevent recurrent cardiac events. Each year, about 750,000 adults have heart attacks, including 200,000 recurrent heart attacks. Cardiac rehab is effective at preventing future events. Cardiac rehab educates patients about the causes of heart attacks and helps patients adopt heart-healthy behaviors. It also extends patients’ medical management after a heart attack, helping to prevent future heart attacks. Data from 20 U.S. states and the District of Columbia indicates that only 1 in 3 heart attack survivors report receiving cardiac rehab after suffering a heart attack. Health-system interventions to promote cardiac rehab referral and use, supported by access to affordable rehab programs within the community, should be prioritized to improve outcomes and prevent recurrent events.

National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2016

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Human Papilloma Vvirus (HPV) vaccination prevents cancer. Six out of 10 U.S. parents are choosing to get the HPV vaccine for their children. Although most children are getting their first dose of HPV vaccine, many children are not completing the vaccination series. CDC recommends 11- to 12-year-olds get two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart. Most U.S. parents are getting the first dose of HPV vaccine for their child, according to the latest estimates from the National Immunization Survey-Teen. In 2016, 60 percent of teens aged 13-17 years received one or more doses of HPV vaccine, an increase of 4 percentage points from 2015. The gap in HPV vaccination rates between boys and girls continues to narrow. Roughly 65 percent of girls received the first dose of HPV vaccine compared to 56 percent of boys who received the first dose of HPV vaccine. Although most children are getting their first dose of HPV vaccine, there continue to be many children who do not complete the vaccination series. HPV vaccination coverage is lower in rural and less urban areas. Those communities could benefit from additional efforts to increase coverage. Recent changes to HPV vaccine recommendations make it easier for parents to protect their children at the recommended ages. CDC recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart.

HIV Testing Among Transgender Women and Men — 27 States and Guam, 2014–2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Transgender women and men in the United States are at high risk for HIV. Because HIV testing is the first step to care and treatment for people living with HIV and an entry point to preventive services for those who are not infected, CDC researchers analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess HIV testing behaviors among transgender women and men. The findings show that transgender women and men are not being sufficiently tested for HIV when compared to other high-risk populations. Transgender women and men had a lower prevalence of ever being tested (36 percent and 32 percent) compared to cisgender gay and bisexual men (62 percent). Additionally, 10 percent of transgender women and men reported being tested for HIV in the past year compared to 22 percent of cisgender gay and bisexual men. CDC recommends that people at high risk for HIV infection be screened for HIV at least once a year. Black transgender women and men were more likely than their white counterparts to report ever being tested for HIV, which may indicate successful testing efforts among black communities. Data from this analysis show that while transgender persons are frequently at high risk for HIV, testing efforts may not be effectively reaching this population. HIV testing efforts specifically tailored for transgender women and men can help ensure more individuals in this population are aware of their status and are receiving HIV care and treatment.

CDC Grand Rounds: Newborn Screening for Hearing Loss and Critical Congenital Heart Disease

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Public health newborn screening programs have an important role in ensuring that point-of-care screening for hearing loss and critical congenital heart disease fulfill their purpose of saving lives and optimizing child development. Newborn screening identifies conditions that can affect a child’s long-term health or survival. Besides laboratory testing of dried bloodspots for dozens of conditions, national guidelines call for newborns to be screened soon after birth for hearing loss and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). CCHD affects approximately 1 in 500 babies and permanent hearing loss at birth affects at least 1.6 per 1,000 infants. Information from state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention data systems compiled by CDC shows that, over time, more children are being identified as receiving intervention services following newborn hearing screening. Few states, though, have similar data systems in place to track outcomes of newborn screening for CCHD. Through early detection of congenital conditions, children have the greatest chance to thrive and reach their full potential.

Notes from the Field:

• Fatal Pneumonic Tularemia Associated with Dog Exposure — Arizona, June 2016

Quick Stats:

• Percentage of Adults Who Ever Used an E-cigarette and Percentage Who Currently Use E-cigarettes, by Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2016

###

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety, and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, stem from human error or deliberate attack, CDC is committed to respond to America’s most pressing health challenges.