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Risk factor knowledge, status, and change in a community screening project.
J R Sutterer1, M P Carey, D K Silver
1Behavioral Physiology Laboratory, Syracuse University, New York 13244.
Journal of Community Health
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Community screening effectively identifies individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, knowledge of these risks, including diabetes, did not correlate with initial risk levels or subsequent changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular disease prevention
- Public health screening
- Health behavior research
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality.
- Identifying individuals at high risk is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
- Community-based programs offer a scalable approach to risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a community-based cardiovascular risk-reduction program.
- To identify high-risk individuals through screening.
- To assess participants' knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Main Methods:
- 1,471 individuals were screened for blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
- Participants completed questionnaires on heart disease knowledge.
- Serum appearance was assessed for lipemia.
Main Results:
- 49.8% of participants had at least one cardiovascular risk factor.
- High prevalence of elevated cholesterol (35.5%) and hypertension (17.7%) was observed.
- Knowledge of risk factors like diabetes was limited, and not linked to risk status.
Conclusions:
- Community screening is a cost-effective method for identifying at-risk populations.
- Participant knowledge of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors is not directly associated with their risk status.
- Further interventions are needed to improve risk factor awareness and management.