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Multicenter Study
. 2020 Aug;7(2):e001322.
doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2020-001322.

Public knowledge of cardiovascular disease and response to acute cardiac events in three municipalities in Brazil

Emily S Bartlett  1 , Luisa S Flor  2 , Danielle Souto Medeiros  3 , Danny V Colombara  4 , Casey K Johanns  2 , Fernando Antonio Camargo Vaz  5 , Shelley Wilson  2 , Herbert C Duber  6   2
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Public knowledge of cardiovascular disease and response to acute cardiac events in three municipalities in Brazil

Emily S Bartlett et al. Open Heart. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a landscape assessment of public knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and acute myocardial infarction symptoms, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) awareness and training in three underserved communities in Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based survey of non-institutionalised adults age 30 or greater was conducted in three municipalities in Eastern Brazil. Data were analysed as survey-weighted percentages of the sampled populations.

Results: 3035 surveys were completed. Overall, one-third of respondents was unable to identify at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor and 25% unable to identify at least one myocardial infarction symptom. A minority of respondents had received training in CPR or were able to identify an AED. Low levels of education and low socioeconomic status were consistent predictors of lower knowledge levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors, acute coronary syndrome symptoms and CPR and AED use.

Conclusions: In three municipalities in Eastern Brazil, overall public knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and symptoms, as well as knowledge of appropriate CPR and AED use was low. Our findings indicate the need for interventions to improve public knowledge and response to acute cardiovascular events in Brazil as a first step towards improving health outcomes in this population. Significant heterogeneity in knowledge seen across sites and socioeconomic strata indicates a need to appropriately target such interventions.

Keywords: acute coronary syndrome; coronary artery disease; delivery of care; emergency medicine; resuscitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease identified by respondents.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Heart attack symptoms identified by respondents.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) awareness and training.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Automated external defibrillator (AED) recognition and knowledge of proper use.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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