Modifiable Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases: Awareness among Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi, India

The proportion of the death and disability due to cardiovascular diseases in developing countries is increasing rapidly and have significant economic and health consequences. Our present study assess the awareness of non pharmacological treatment modalities for modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the patients attending tertiary care hospital.

The objectives of the study were to assess the awareness of modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.

A cross sectional descriptive, interview based study was done in 203 adult patients attending cardiology OPD in a tertiary care hospital located in Delhi. Consecutive sampling method was followed for recruiting the study participants. The study tool used was modified WHO STEPS approach for assessment of risk factors for non communicable diseases. Data analysis was done using SPSS v.20.

Among 203 study participants, 137(67.5%) were males and 66(32.5%) were females. 40 (19.7%) were current smokers and 36(17.8%) were past smokers. 30 (14.8%) of study participants were current consumers of alcohol.197 (97%) of the study participants were following healthy dietary practices. Significant association of residence with awareness about harmful effects of smoking 3.48(1.73–7.01)[OR(CI)] (p=0.001) and harmful effects of alcohol consumption 2.26(1.15–4.43)[OR(CI)] (p=0.026) was found.

The prevalence of smoking among the study participants was high and their awareness regarding the risk of occurrence and worsening of existing CVD due to smoking was low. There is an urgent need to educate patients having CVD about modifiable risk factors and healthy lifestyle practices.