Cardiovascular and diabetes risk perception in a Hispanic community sample

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Diabetes Mellitus Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Accurate risk perception is vital for preventive health behaviors.
• Hispanic adults face a disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• Understanding risk perception gaps is key to targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare perceived 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk with actual risk in Hispanic adults.
• To assess perceived likelihood of undiagnosed diabetes or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) against calculated risk in this population.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 183 Hispanic adults in Charleston, SC.
• Calculation of 10-year CHD risk and likelihood of undiagnosed diabetes/IFG.
• Utilized the Risk Perception Survey-Diabetes Mellitus for perceived risk assessment.

Main Results:

• Over half (54.8%) underestimated their risk of undiagnosed diabetes/IFG; 14.8% underestimated their 10-year CHD risk.
• Older, overweight, and male respondents were more likely to underestimate their risks.
• Family history of diabetes was associated with lower underestimation of diabetes risk, while diagnosed hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, or family history of heart attack increased CHD risk underestimation.

Conclusions:

• Significant underestimation of cardiovascular and diabetes risk exists within the surveyed Hispanic adult community.
• Targeted health education is needed to enhance accurate risk perception.
• Improving risk perception can be a pathway to better health promotion and disease prevention strategies.