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Correctness of Cardiovascular Risk Perception in Primary Prevention Care: An Italian Cross-Sectional Multicenter

Niccolò Simonelli1, Mariangela Alberti2, Miriana D'andrea3

  • 1Niccolò Simonelli, PhD, MScN, RN, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara; and SS Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo University Hospital, Alessandria, Italy.

The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
|July 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Many individuals underestimate their cardiovascular disease risk. This Italian study found that incorrect risk perception is linked to factors increasing actual cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for better screening.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Individual cardiovascular disease risk assessment is crucial for primary prevention.
  • However, public perception of personal cardiovascular risk often differs from reality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare perceived cardiovascular risk with calculated real risk in an Italian population undergoing screening.
  • To identify factors associated with inaccurate cardiovascular risk perception.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, multicenter study included 286 Italian adults (40-69 years) without prior cardiovascular events.
  • Cardiovascular risk perception was assessed via a 5-point Likert scale; real risk was calculated using the SCORE2 algorithm.
  • Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected to analyze associations with risk perception.

Main Results:

  • Most participants (67.8%) had low/moderate real cardiovascular risk and perceived it accurately (91.2%).
  • However, among those with high/very high real risk (32.2%), a significant majority (91-94%) had incorrect risk perception.
  • Inaccurate risk perception was strongly associated with sociodemographic factors (sex, age, education, employment) and clinical factors (smoking, blood pressure, lipids).

Conclusions:

  • Incorrect cardiovascular risk perception in the Italian general population is linked to characteristics that elevate actual cardiovascular risk.
  • Community cardiovascular screening programs should incorporate assessment of risk perception.
  • Further research is needed to understand the determinants and consequences of risk perception inaccuracies.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiovascular carecardiovascular diseaseprimary preventionreal riskrisk perception

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