title: Knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and awareness of non-pharmacological approach for risk prevention in young survivors of acute myocardial infarction. The cardiovascular risk prevention project "Help Your Heart Stay Young".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in young patients who experienced myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of traditional CVD risk factors, non-fatal cardiovascular events and of non-pharmacological factors able to reduce CVD risk and education level were evaluated by questionnaires in subjects who visited their family doctors. Sixty-one participants with history of MI in age <50 years (MI+) were compared with 3749 subjects with age <50 years, from the same population source, but without history of MI (MI-). MI+ were more frequently men (p<0.01), did not have significantly higher prevalences of family history of CVD, diabetes and hypertension. MI+ individuals reported previous non-fatal stroke (13% vs. 0.5%, p<0.001), overweight, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia (all p<0.001) more frequently than controls, whereas prevalence of arterial hypertension, smoking habit and physical inactivity did not differ between the two groups; MI+ and MI- individuals did not differ in terms of the proportion of those who were unaware of being hypertensive, diabetic or hypercholesterolemic. MI+ participants reported more frequently lower education level than controls (p<0.05). Knowledge of non-pharmacological approach for CVD risk reduction was similar in MI+ and MI-. In a logistic multivariate analysis, male gender (adjusted odds ratio=5.8) and high cholesterol level (adjusted odds ratio 2.8, both p<0.01) were independent correlates of MI+. CVD risk factors distribution was similar between participants with juvenile MI+ and MI in age >or=50 years (n=167) extracted from the same population source; however, stroke was reported more frequently in juvenile MI+ than in those who had MI at age >or=50 years/old (13% vs. 4%, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Juvenile non-fatal MI was associated with metabolic CVD risk factors, with higher cerebrovascular co-morbidity and lower education level.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University School of Medicine, Naples, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Migliaresi
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Celentano
authors: Vittorio
authors: V
authors: Palmieri
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Pezzullo
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Martino
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Bonito
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Guillaro
authors: Ciro
authors: C
authors: Brancati
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Di Minno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires