Cardiovasc Prev Pharmacother.  2022 Oct;4(4):149-157. 10.36011/cpp.2022.4.e20.

Public awareness of cardiovascular disease prevention in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 2Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Asan, Korea
  • 3Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
  • 5Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
  • 6Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
  • 7Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 8Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
  • 9Institute for Innovation in Digital Healthcare, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background
The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is significant in Korea. Ultimately, public knowledge and awareness of CVD risk factors and prevention are essential to reduce its burden. Hence, this study aimed to examine the level of public awareness of CVD risk factors and prevention in Korea in 2022.
Methods
We used data from the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey conducted by the Korean Society of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in June 2022. Using a structured web-based questionnaire, 2,000 individuals aged 20 years or more were surveyed on computers or mobile devices. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, the presence of cardiometabolic disease, CVD concerns and self-assessed likelihood, and awareness of CVD prevention were analyzed.
Results
Cancer (44.3%) was the most feared disease, followed by CVD (19.5%). Nevertheless, most respondents stated that they were likely to develop CVD in their lifetime (67.4%). Only 9.2% of respondents were aware of the details of recommendations to prevent CVD, and this level of knowledge was also low among respondents with cardiometabolic diseases (10.7%). Not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and reducing alcohol consumption were deemed easy to implement. On the contrary, reducing stress, being physically active, and eating a healthy diet were considered the most difficult recommendations to practice.
Conclusions
Public awareness of CVD risk factors and prevention appeared to be insufficient in Korea. Our research suggests that simple but practical recommendations should be conveyed and promoted to raise public awareness, which is currently inadequate.

Keyword

Cardiovascular diseases; Prevention and control; Awareness; Public health; Korea

Figure

  • Fig. 1. The survey of (A) the most feared disease and (B) the most likely disease to develop within 10 years among the five diseases. The numbers in parentheses indicate the proportion sum of the most and the second most.

  • Fig. 2. Awareness of recommendations for cardiovascular disease prevention. CMD, cardiometabolic disease.

  • Fig. 3. Perceived importance of each recommendation for cardiovascular disease prevention. BMI, body mass index; CMD, cardiometabolic disease; MI, myocardial infarction.

  • Fig. 4. The survey of (A) the easiest and (B) the most difficult recommendations to follow. The numbers in parentheses indicate the proportion sum of the most and the second most. BMI, body mass index; CMD, cardiometabolic disease; MI, myocardial infarction.


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