Perceived cardiovascular risk and attitude towards lifestyle change
Krisztián Vörös1, Bernadett Márkus1, Csenge Hargittay1
1Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Insights
Patients often underestimate their cardiovascular risk, and this perception has little impact on their motivation for lifestyle changes like weight loss or increased physical activity. Health-related factors appear to be secondary drivers for patient motivation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality globally.
- Lifestyle modifications are crucial for reducing CVD mortality.
- Understanding patient risk perception is key to promoting preventive behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between patients' perceived cardiovascular risk and their motivation for lifestyle changes.
- To determine if underestimating risk affects patient motivation for adopting healthier habits.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study involving 200 patients visiting family physicians.
- Patients reported demographic, clinical, lifestyle characteristics, and perceived cardiovascular risk.
- Physicians estimated patients' actual cardiovascular risk using national guidelines.
Main Results:
- 161 patients completed the study (80.5% response rate).
- Patients significantly underestimated their cardiovascular risk, with high-risk individuals misclassifying themselves.
- Perceived risk had a minimal influence on the intention to change lifestyle; self-rated obesity was a stronger predictor.
Conclusions:
- Patient perception of cardiovascular risk and associated optimism bias have little effect on their motivation for lifestyle change.
- Patient motivation for lifestyle changes may not be primarily driven by health concerns.
Background:
Cardiovascular diseases are prominent cause of death. Lifestyle change is effective in decreasing mortality. Perception of patients' cardiovascular risk by physicians is a drive for following preventive recommendations. Whether the hazard perceived by patients influences their attitude towards lifestyle is uncertain.
Objective:
We hypothesized that high perceived risk would be associated with a stronger determination for lifestyle change, while incorrectly optimistic patients would be less motivated.
Methods:
Two hundred patients visiting their family physicians were asked to fill out a questionnaire about demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics, about their attitude towards lifestyle change and their estimation of their cardiovascular risk. Actual risk was estimated by family physicians based on the national guideline.
Results:
Questionnaires were completed by 80.5% (161/200) of patients approached. Patients underestimated their risk (P < 0.001), mainly because high-/very high-risk patients classified themselves into lower risk categories. The majority of patients were planning a lifestyle change, losing weight being the most popular goal. It was the priority even for some normal weight subjects and for smokers, too. Perceived risk played a marginal role as a determinant of lifestyle change. Underestimation of perceived risk had no effect on patients' motivation. Self-rated obesity was the predictor of three out of five means of change (weight loss, diet, physical activity).
Conclusion:
Perceived cardiovascular risk and incorrect optimism about this hazard have minimal, if any, influence on attitude towards lifestyle change. Patients' motivation seems not to be primarily health related.
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