Cardiovascular Diseases and Women: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior in the General Population in Italy

BACKGROUND: The objectives of the study were to document knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of women regarding cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and the determinants associated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among a random sample of 830 women older than 18 years from the general population in Italy. RESULTS: Almost all participants reported having heard about CVDs, and among them 89.4% and 74.7% identified smoking and high cholesterol level as risk factors. Only 26.5% identified the main CVDs risk factors. Women more knowledgeable were married and better educated and self-perceived a worse health status. Only 23% knew the main CVDs preventive measures and this knowledge was significantly higher in women who are unemployed, who are more educated, who have received information about CVDs from physicians, and who know the main risk factors. Respondents with lower education, those with at least three children, those who self-perceived a worse health status, and those who need information were most likely to have a positive attitude toward the perceived risk of developing CVDs. Women with two or three children or more were at high risk profiles 49% and 56% lower than women with one child. CONCLUSIONS: Educational programs are needed among women as support to improve knowledge and appropriate behavior about CVDs.