A Descriptive cross sectional study to evaluate the Knowledge about Symptoms and Risk Factors for Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) among general public of northern hilly state of India
Background: It is uncertain how much of the general public is aware of the symptoms and risks associated with myocardial infarction. Given that it is a catastrophic disorder, understanding the risk factors, early warning signs, and symptoms may help to reduce morbidity and mortality in the population. The purpose of this study was to determine how well-versed Himachal Pradesh populace was in it.
Material & Methods: This cross-sectional survey of Himachal Pradesh residents was carried out between January 2023 and March 2023 using Google forms. Until 400 replies were gathered, the questionnaire was distributed among state citizens in both rural and urban areas via email and social media sites such Whatsapp groups, Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. We gathered information on their sociodemographic traits and their awareness of the risk and mitigating factors for heart attack. Epi info v7 software was used to analyse the data using the necessary statistical tests.
Results: In the current study, 58% (232) of the participants were over 40 years old whereas 42% (168) of the participants were under 40. Among the Participants 51% (204) were men and 49% (196) were women. In our study, 57 (14.25%) study participants had very good knowledge (>10 marks) of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, 224 (56%) had good knowledge (>7 marks), 70 (17.5%) had fair knowledge (>4 marks), and 49 (12.25%) had poor knowledge (4 marks) of the risk factors for a heart attack. The knowledge of study participants on risk factors for heart attacks was distributed as follows: 52 (13%) had very good knowledge (9–10 marks), 244 (61%) had good knowledge (7-8 marks), 69 (17.25%) had fair knowledge (4-6 marks), and 35 (8.75%) had poor knowledge (4 marks).
Conclusion: The survey's findings lead us to the conclusion that the people of Himachal Pradesh generally lack knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with a heart attack. In order to inform the most vulnerable members of the population, awareness programmes are essential.