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Underestimation of risk perception in patients at risk of heart disease
Bronwyn Everett1, Yenna Salamonson2, John X Rolley3
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Australia Centre for Applied Nursing Research, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Australia b.everett@uws.edu.au.
Insights
Accurate cardiovascular risk perception is crucial for high-risk patients. Lower perceived risk in cardiac patients was linked to reduced cardiac rehabilitation enrollment and medication adherence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Accurate cardiovascular risk perception is vital for patient engagement in risk-reducing behaviors.
- Patients with established or high risk of coronary heart disease need to understand their condition to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between risk perception and subsequent risk-reducing behaviors in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures.
- To determine if patients' understanding of their cardiovascular risk influences their engagement in health-promoting actions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective correlational design involving 220 patients undergoing interventional cardiology procedures in Sydney, Australia.
- Data collection included baseline and six-month follow-up surveys on demographics, clinical information, risk perception (RRP-2), psychological status (HADS, PSS), physical activity (PAS), medication adherence, and cardiac rehabilitation enrollment.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and stress was observed from baseline to six months.
- Physical activity engagement significantly increased over the six-month follow-up period.
- Higher baseline risk perception scores positively predicted enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation and medication adherence.
Conclusions:
- A notable underestimation of risk perception exists among high-risk cardiac patients undergoing interventional procedures.
- Lower risk perception was associated with decreased likelihood of attending cardiac rehabilitation and adhering to medication regimens.
Background:
Accurate perception of cardiovascular risk is important if people with established, or at high risk of, coronary heart disease are to engage in risk-reducing behaviours.
Aim:
This study aimed to determine whether the risk perception of patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary procedure was related to their subsequent engagement in risk-reducing behaviours.
Methods:
Using a prospective correlational design, patients presenting to a tertiary referral hospital in Sydney, Australia for an interventional cardiology procedure were surveyed at baseline and again at six months. Data collected included demographic and clinical information, relative risk perception (RRP-2), psychological status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Perceived Stress Scale, and physical activity using the Physical Activity Scale. In addition, data on medication adherence and cardiac rehabilitation enrolment were collected at the six-month follow-up.
Results:
The study cohort consisted of 220 participants. Statistical analysis revealed a reduction in anxiety (p<0.001), depression (p =0.004) and stress (p <0.001), and an increase in physical activity engagement (p <0.001) from baseline to six-month follow-up. Higher risk perception scores at baseline predicted an increased likelihood of enrolment in a cardiac rehabilitation programme (p =0.01) and adherence to medication regimen (p =0.007).
Conclusions:
This study revealed an overall underestimation of risk perception among a sample of 'high risk' cardiac patients admitted to hospital for an interventional coronary procedure, with those who reported lower risk perception being less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation and less likely to adhere to their medication regimen.
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