Key result
Only ~47% of the general public can correctly define heart failure despite widespread name recognition.
Why the study?
Improving heart failure awareness at the general population level is fundamental for better outcomes, motivating an assessment of the current status of heart failure awareness in the Korean general population.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,032)
The awareness of heart failure in the Korean general population is low, highlighting the need for proactive educational efforts, especially for the elderly and those with lower socioeconomic status.
BACKGROUND: For a better heart failure outcome, it is fundamental to improve the awareness of heart failure at the general population level. We conducted this study to identify the current status of awareness of heart failure in the Korean general population. METHODS: This cross-sectional nationwide survey recruited a total of 1,032 participants aged 30 years or older, based on a stratification systematic sampling method. A 23-item questionnaire was surveyed through telephone interviews. RESULTS: Although 80% of the participants had heard of heart failure, 47% exactly defined what heart failure is. A minority of participants correctly recognized the lifetime risk of developing heart failure (21%) as well as the mortality (16%) and readmission risk (18%) of heart failure and the cost burden of heart failure admission (28%). Regarding preferred treatment options, 71% of the participants chose a treatment option that could improve the quality of life. Approximately two-thirds of the participants agreed that current medical treatment could reduce mortality and improve the quality of life. More than half of the participants (59%) thought that heart failure patients should live quietly and reduce all physical activities. Across survey items, we found a lower awareness state in the elderly groups and people at lower income and educational levels. CONCLUSIONS: The current awareness status of heart failure in the Korean general population is still low. Proactive educational efforts should be made to improve public awareness with special attention to individuals with lower disease awareness.
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Jung et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart failure awareness (n=1,032). In a nationwide survey of the Korean general population, although 80% of participants had heard of heart failure, only 47.3% could correctly define it, and awareness of its risks and costs remained low.
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