Incorporating Cardiovascular Risk Assessment into Adolescent Reproductive Health and Primary Care Visits

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Adolescent Medicine
• Preventive Cardiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment is crucial, even in young populations.
• Integrating CVD risk tools into existing adolescent healthcare visits can improve accessibility.
• Early intervention is key to mitigating long-term cardiovascular risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability and feasibility of the HerHeart web-tool for cardiovascular risk assessment.
• To assess the tool's impact on perceived cardiovascular risk among adolescents.
• To determine the tool's acceptability to both young women and healthcare providers.

Main Methods:

• 60 young women (13-21 years) used the HerHeart tool in adolescent clinics.
• Usability was measured using the Website Analysis and Measurement Inventory (WAMMI).
• Perceived cardiovascular disease risk, blood pressure, and BMI were assessed at baseline and 3 months.

Main Results:

• Adolescent participants and healthcare providers reported high usability of the HerHeart tool (WAMMI median 79 and 76, respectively).
• Use of the tool increased participants' perceived 10-year and lifetime cardiovascular disease risk.
• 31 participants set behavior change goals, though only 12 returned for follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The HerHeart tool is acceptable for young women and shows promise in altering risk perception and promoting healthier behaviors.
• Improving study retention is essential for future research on promoting cardiovascular health in reproductive health settings.
• The tool has potential for reducing cardiovascular disease risk in adolescents.