Cardiovascular risk factor knowledge and belief in prevention among adults in Chicago

We present our findings on cardiovascular risk factor knowledge and belief in prevention from a survey administered to adult family members of children participating in a Chicago school health education program. The major risk factor most frequently recognized and understood appeared to be hypertension. Cigarette smoking and cholesterol were least frequently recognized. Few respondents could identify all three of the major risk factors, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and cholesterol. Non-high-school graduates and the Hispanic subgroup demonstrated less knowledge and understanding. The results confirm the benefits of the extensive high blood pressure education programs of the past decade and support the need for similar interventions in nutrition and smoking prevention and cessation. Innovative approaches toward the less-educated and the Hispanic subgroups within the population also appear necessary to accelerate the encouraging decline in cardiovascular diseases seen over the past two decades.