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. 2024 May 31;13(11):3253.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13113253.

The Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Health Lifestyle of Italian Women

Adele Lillo  1 , Ettore Antoncecchi  2 , Valeria Antoncecchi  1 , Giovanni Battista Zito  3 , On Behalf Of The A R C A Carin Women Survey Investigators
Affiliations

The Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Health Lifestyle of Italian Women

Adele Lillo et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of death in women, but few of them are aware of the CV risks (CVRs). Most women are not aware of all the CV risk factorsand their knowledge often still does not improve their lifestyle. Methods: The Carin Women is a survey conducted among Italian women by filling out a questionnaire in the waiting rooms of clinics. The aim was to determine the level of awareness of women's cardiovascular risk, knowledge of risk factors, and lifestyle. A total of 5590 questionnaires were completed in two different periods. Results: Median age was 56 (IQR 46-65); BMI was 25 (IQR 22-29). Schooling, marital status, and rate of risk conditions were assessed; 311 women (5.57%) had already suffered a cardiovascular event. The relationship between the CV events and the number of traditional risk factors was significant. A similar curve, but without significant differences, was reported for non-traditional risk factors. From the total number of women, 23% with a high CVR and 62% with a very high CVR underestimated thei risk regardless of their level of education. Up to 43% of women underestimated female CV risk compared to male risk. Women showed a good knowledge of traditional risk factors, but only a few of them had a healthy lifestyle: 21.86% were smokers, only 45.88% performed sufficient physical activity, 27.55% did not recognize they were overweight, and only 30.4% consumed more than two daily portions of fruit and vegetables. Most women (86%) need more information about CVR. Conclusions: Italian women underestimate female CVRs and their own CVR.

Keywords: awareness; cardiovascular prevention; cardiovascular risk factors; gender medicine; women.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Questionnaire (second form).
Figure A1
Figure A1
Questionnaire (second form).
Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of CVDs compared to the number of CVRFs. CVDs, CVRFs, TRFs, and NTRFs: see text. OR: Odds Ratio. * Significance in comparison with the FR 0 group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of CVDs according to age. (OR: Odds Ratio; yrs: years; CVDs: cardiovascular diseases). * Statistically significant in comparison with the age group <46 years.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The graphic shows the perception of one’s own CVR in different age groups. Coloured lines indicate the trend in perception of own risk as low (blue), medium (yellow), and high (grey).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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