The assessment of coronary heart disease risk factors correlated with demographic and social data in post-coronary intervention patients in Polish population

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Europe, accounting for over 4 million deaths each year. Smoking cigarettes, an unhealthy diet and no physical activity constitute important risk factors. Educational program was conducted among patients after coronary angioplasty. Data on patients’ knowledge of risk factors of coronary heart disease, recommended behavior, secondary prevention methods, and side effects were collected and analyzed in conjunction with demographic and social factors. One questionnaire included details about 20 patients. The questionnaire included demographic data (gender, education, place of residence), epidemiological (height, weight, waist size), interview on coronary heart disease risk factors, medications and side effects.

Methods: The educational program involved 19,316 patients above 18 years old after percuta­neous coronary intervention (PCI). The basic tool was a standardized questionnaire consisting of visit forms.

Results: Despite PCI, 20.5% of patients smoke cigarettes, more often men, younger, less educated. 35.7% of patients believe that limiting physical activity after successful coronary intervention is beneficial — more often older, lower educated, with higher body mass index, from smaller towns. 85% of patients (mainly women, younger, higher-educated, coming from bigger cities) claim to be aware which products are beneficial for the cardiovascular system and which have a negative influence. 8% of patients after PCI do not control their blood pressure at all — more often men, younger people with lower level of education and coming from smaller towns. 44% of patients happened to forget to take or ran out of some medications — more often those with lower level of education.

Conclusions: It is essential to implement to clinical practice educational programs for post-coronary intervention patients. These patients are at highest risk of having cardiovascular events. Educational programs should be addressed to all post-coronary intervention patients, especially to those coming from small towns. A limitation of the survey was that patients were not divided into acute coronary syndrome patients and stable coronary heart disease ones. It was not specified what time after the coronary intervention the patients were included into the research.