Risk perception of cardiovascular disease among Turkish adults: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading global cause of mortality.
• Individual risk perception for CVD significantly influences health-related decision-making in adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk perception among adults.
• To identify factors associated with CVD risk perception in the adult population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 453 adults in İzmir, Turkey (April-June 2019).
• Data collection utilized sociodemographic questionnaires, the Perception of Risk of Heart Disease Scale (PRHDS), and health perception assessments.

Main Results:

• The average PRHDS score was 48.88 ± 8.12.
• CVD risk perception was associated with age, gender, education, marital status, employment, health perception, family history of CVD, chronic disease status, smoking, and BMI.
• A low overall risk perception for CVD was observed despite its global impact.

Conclusions:

• Low CVD risk perception among the study participants underscores a critical gap in public awareness.
• Targeted interventions are necessary to educate individuals about CVD risk factors and promote proactive health behaviors.
• Enhancing public understanding of CVD risks is crucial for mitigating disease burden.