Sociodemographic factors associated with self-reported awareness of cardiovascular diseases: Findings from a nationwide survey of adults

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide, including in Poland, and pose a significant economic burden. Aims: This study aimed to assess self-reported knowledge of CVD, recognition of CVD symptoms, and awareness of CVD risk factors among adults in Poland, as well as to identify sociodemographic differences across these domains. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional computer-assisted web interviewing survey was conducted in January 2026 with 1087 adults aged 18–85 to assess self-reported CVD knowledge, symptom recognition, and risk factors. Results: The online questionnaire showed that 53.4% rated their CVD knowledge as average, while only 12.7% rated it as high. Recognized symptoms included irregular heartbeat (71.5%), chest pain (66.1%), and shortness of breath (61.1%). Major risk factors were well-known for overweight/obesity (73.6%) and high blood pressure (72.8%), but awareness was lower for sleep disorders (42.0%) and male sex (12.8%). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that higher education, urban residence, active employment, and a history of CVD were linked to greater CVD knowledge (P <0.05). Conclusions: Awareness of selected CVD symptoms and risk factors remained limited, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions.