Public knowledge of heart attack symptoms and prevalence of self-reported cardiovascular risk factors in Ilorin, Nigeria.
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Cardiac Society
Abstract
Background and objectives: Despite reduction in door‑to‑balloon time in the management of acute myocardial
infarction (AMI), prehospital delay by the patients has remained a major concern as benefits derivable from
reperfusion treatments are time dependent. This study aimed at evaluating knowledge and perception of
warning signs of heart attack among civil servants in Ilorin, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A pretested structured questionnaire was designed to obtain relevant information on
knowledge and perception of heart attack symptoms; and action to be taken if one experiences the condition.
Results: Questionnaires from 601 subjects consisting of 312 (51.9%) males and 289 (48.1%) females were
analyzed. Although, 78% of the respondents have heard about heart attack, only 44.4% could discriminate a
heart attack symptom from other conditions. Higher proportion of women (50.2%) than men (39.1%) could
identify a core symptom of heart attack (P < 0.05). Similarly, higher percentage of participants 40 years
and older (48.3%) were more knowledgeable than those younger than 40 years (42.9%), but the difference
was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Higher percentage of women reported prior cardiovascular
disease/risk factors than men.
Conclusion: We concluded that participants have low knowledge of heart attack symptoms with women
being more knowledgeable than their male counterparts. There is the need for community education on heart
attack warning signs and the need for early hospital presentation by affected individuals.
Description
Keywords
KEY WORDS: Cardiovascular risks, heart attack, Nigerians, prehospital delay, warning signs
Citation
12(2):95-100