title: Effect of gender on awareness of cardiovascular risk factors, preventive action taken, and barriers to cardiovascular health in a group of Austrian subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing in industrialized countries. Preventive action is an important factor in minimizing CVD-associated morbidity and mortality. However, it is not known whether gender differences affect CVD or risk factor awareness influencing self-assessment of personal risk and preventive action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to assess individual CVD and risk factor awareness, preventive action taken, and barriers to cardiovascular health.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 573 women and 336 men, randomly chosen to complete an anonymous questionnaire to assess individual CVD and risk factor awareness, preventive action taken, and barriers to cardiovascular health. The data were analyzed using SAS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiovascular disease was identified in 75% of patients, in both sexes, as the leading cause of death; however, both groups showed significant lack of knowledge about CVD risk factors. Type 2 diabetes was identified correctly in only 27.5%. Preventive action was linked more often to family members in 66.5% of women and 62.8% of men. The primary barrier to cardiovascular health in adults was incorrect assessment of personal CVD risk. More than half of female respondents (56.4%) and male respondents (52.7%) underestimated their risk of CVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge about risk factors for CVD needs to be improved in members of both sexes. Because women, in particular, have difficulty in correctly assessing their personal CVD risk, future education programs are warranted to inform both women and men about CVD and its risk factors, thereby helping them to correctly assess their individual risk. However, greater effort is needed to inform men, compared with women, about the various ways in which to prevent CVD and to motivate them to take preventive action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haidinger
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zweimüller
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stütz
authors.forename: Dondue
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaider
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strametz-Juranek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult