Heart Score Estimation by Specialized Nurses in a Greek Urban Population

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Nursing

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant health concern.
• Early identification and management of CVD risk factors are crucial for prevention.
• The role of specialized nurses in cardiovascular risk assessment is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using the HeartScore in an urban Greek population.
• To identify the prevalence of CVD risk factors within this population.
• To evaluate the role of specialized nurses in cardiovascular risk assessment and management.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of 2,145 individuals through media announcements and a cardiac center website.
• Utilized the HeartScore tool for CVD risk estimation.
• Measured serum total cholesterol and assessed reported dyslipidemia and hypertension.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of the population (33%) reported dyslipidemia, yet only 17% were on treatment.
• Hypertension and dyslipidemia prevalence increased with age.
• The majority of the studied population remained undiagnosed and untreated for CVD risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Specialized nurses effectively estimated CVD risk using HeartScore in a Greek urban setting.
• Findings underscore the high prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated CVD risk factors.
• Emphasizes the critical need for nursing-led primary and secondary prevention programs to improve CVD risk management.