Associations between family history of cardiovascular disease, knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and health behaviours
Rishi Sud A D , Bapti Roy A , Jonathan Emerson B and Annemarie Hennessy CA Westmead Hospital, Corner Hawkesbury Road and Darcy Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
B Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown Road, Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia.
C School of Medicine, Building 30, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown Campus, NSW 2560, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: rishi_sud@hotmail.com
Australian Journal of Primary Health 19(2) 119-123 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY12010
Submitted: 6 November 2011 Accepted: 21 February 2012 Published: 24 April 2012
Abstract
The objective of the study was to examine associations between family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD), knowledge of CVD risk and protective factors, and health behaviours. The design was via administration of a questionnaire to 307 participants from four general practice centre waiting rooms in the Sydney West area. The most recognised CVD risk factor was smoking (97.7%) and the most recognised CVD protective factor was omega-3 fatty acids (78.5%). After adjustment for age, sex, education attainment and personal history of CVD, a strong family history of premature CVD was associated with being more likely to interpret a blood pressure of 130/85 as a CVD risk factor (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.07–7.14), but less likely to identify being an ex-smoker (compared with never having smoked before) as a risk factor (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12–0.90). Those with a strong family history of premature CVD, on average, had smoked 0.82 pack years more than those with an average family history of premature CVD (s.e. 4.22, P = 0.04). In conclusion, there continues to be both strengths and deficits in the community’s overall knowledge of CVD risk and protective factors, and a strong family history of premature CVD appears to be an independent risk factor for smoking.
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