Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms and Risk Factors Among the Elderly in Rural Chennai: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims and objectives Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Timely recognition of symptoms, and understanding of associated risk factors, are critical for early intervention and improved outcomes. However, awareness levels - particularly among the elderly in rural regions - remain poorly studied. This study aimed to assess the awareness of heart attack symptoms and risk factors among the elderly population in rural Chennai. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 individuals, aged 60 years and above, in the rural field practice area of Medavakkam, under Madras Medical College, Chennai, India. An interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed knowledge of 9 symptoms and 11 risk factors associated with MI. Awareness scores were calculated based on participants' spontaneous and prompted responses. Results The mean age of participants was 65 years. Chest pain (248, or 64.58%) and breathlessness (176, or 45.83%) were the most recognized symptoms, while neck pain (12, or 3.12%) was the least known. Among risk factors, hypertension (182, or 47.4%) and stress (178, or 46.35%) were most identified, whereas high salt intake (22, or 5.73%) and obesity (26, or 6.77%) were least known. The average awareness score for symptoms was 5.56, for risk factors, 7.61, and the total knowledge score was 13.18 out of 20. Conclusion The study reveals significant gaps in awareness of heart attack symptoms and risk factors among the rural elderly. These findings underscore the urgent need for community-based health education and preventive strategies, tailored to this vulnerable demographic, to enhance early recognition and reduce MI-related morbidity and mortality.