Knowledge and perception of cardiovascular disease risk in women of reproductive age.

• Authors: Lauren Beussink-Nelson, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States.; Abigail S Baldridge, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States.; Elizabeth Hibler, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, 680 N Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.; Natalie A Bello, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Cardiology, United States.; Kelly Epps, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church, VA, United States.; Kenzie A Cameron, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States.; Donald M Lloyd-Jones, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States.; Holly Gooding, Emory University; Janet M Catov, University of Pittsburgh Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, United States.; Janet W Rich-Edwards, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Division of Women's Health, United States.; Lynn M Yee, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, United States.; Paloma Toledo, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, United States.; Jennifer M Banayan, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, United States.; Sadiya S Khan, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, 680 N Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.
• Journal Title: Am J Prev Cardiol
• Volume: Volume 11
• Publisher: Elsevier B.V. | 2022-09, Pages 100364-100364
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2022.100364
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Pregnancy; Prevention; Risk factors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Women who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, their knowledge of CVD risk is not well characterized. We aimed to evaluate knowledge and perception of CVD risk in young women and to determine whether these factors differ based on experience of an APO. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among women with a recent live birth at an urban medical center. Knowledge and perception of CVD risk were assessed through a self-administered online survey adapted from the American Heart Association Survey of Women's CVD Awareness. RESULTS: Of 5612 individuals contacted between 3/1/21 and 4/18/21, 714 completed the survey; the mean (SD) age was 34 (4) years and 25% reported an APO. While 62% of respondents identified CVD as the leading cause of death in women, there was no significant difference in CVD knowledge scores between participants who reported experiencing an APO and those who did not (6.9 vs 6.8 out of 10; p = 0.51). Participants who reported experiencing an APO had higher perception of personal risk for CVD (adjusted odds ratio, 2.64 [95% CI 1.83-3.80]) compared with participants who did not. Half of participants who experienced an APO reported perceiving average, or below average, risk for CVD and only 41 (22.5%) reported speaking with a healthcare professional about CVD within the past year. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps remain in knowledge of CVD risk among young women, particularly after an APO. The peripartum period may represent a unique opportunity for targeted education when healthcare engagement is high.