The Relationship between Knowledge and Risk for Heart Attack and Stroke

Background Stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) represent 2 of the leading causes of death in the United States. The early recognition of risk factors and event symptoms allows for the mitigation of disability or death. We sought to compare subject knowledge of stroke and MI, assess subject risk fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases 2013-10, Vol.22 (7), p.996-1001
Main Authors: Lambert, Cameron, BS, Vinson, Seth, BS, Shofer, Frances, PhD, Brice, Jane, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Brain Ischemia - epidemiology
Cardiovascular
Cerebrovascular accident
cerebrovascular disease
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
heart attack
Humans
knowledge
Male
Middle Aged
myocardial infarction
Myocardial Infarction - epidemiology
Neurology
Risk
Risk Assessment
stroke
Stroke - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Background Stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) represent 2 of the leading causes of death in the United States. The early recognition of risk factors and event symptoms allows for the mitigation of disability or death. We sought to compare subject knowledge of stroke and MI, assess subject risk for cardiovascular disease, and determine if an association exists between knowledge and risk. Methods In this cross-sectional survey, adult, non–health care professionals were presented with a written knowledge test and risk assessment tool. Subjects were classified into 3 categories of cardiovascular risk. Associations were then calculated between knowledge, risk, and population demographics. Results Of 500 subjects approached, 364 were enrolled. The subjects were mostly white, middle-aged, and high school educated. Gender and income were evenly distributed. Forty-eight (14%) subjects were identified as ideal risk, 130 (38%) as low risk, and 168 (49%) as moderate/high risk. MI and stroke knowledge scores decreased as cardiovascular risk increased (85%, 79%, and 73% for ideal, low, and moderate/high risk groups, respectively; P < .001). In addition, regardless of risk category, stroke knowledge scores were always lower than heart attack knowledge scores. Conclusions Knowledge about stroke and MI was modest, with knowledge of MI exceeding that of stroke at every level of risk. Subjects with higher risk were less knowledgeable about the stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors than those of MI.
ISSN:1052-3057
1532-8511
DOI:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2012.02.002