Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Influence of encountering a heart attack or stroke to the knowledge of cardiovascular diseases

Joint Conference on 17^th European Heart Disease and Heart Failure Congress and 2^nd International Conference on Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiac Surgery

March 15-17, 2017 London, UK

Laura Spejeraite and Ausra Rudinskiene

Vilnius University Hospital Clinics Santari�?¡k�?¨s, Lithuania
Vilnius City Clinical Hospital, Lithuania

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Exp Cardiolog

Abstract :

Heart attack and acute stroke are prevailing causes of death in the eastern European countries. The goal of this study was to determine whether encountering a heart attack or stroke influences the knowledge of these acute cardiovascular disease complications among urban Lithuanian adults. Data about cardiovascular disease risk factors, heart attack and stroke warning signs was collected by developing close-ended questions at â�?�?Vilniaus Centro Poliklinikaâ�? primary health care center in 2015. The knowledge levels were compared between control group and the following three: heart attack or stroke survivors; those who have heart attack victims among family members or close friends; those having stroke victims in their close surroundings. In total, answers from (n=408) respondents aged 25-65 years was analyzed. The main age was 44.09�?±11.9 and (53.2%) were women. Those whose family members and close friends suffered from stroke had better knowledge of stroke warning signs (p<0.001) and cardiovascular disease risk factors (p=0.02) whereas those who had heart attack victims among close acquaintances, were significantly better in recognizing only heart attack warning signs (p<0.001). Adults, who underwent heart attack or stroke personally, were more familiar only with cardiovascular disease risk factors (p=0.015), but knowledge level about heart attack or stroke warning signs had no difference in comparison to control group. Since heart attack and stroke survivors usually are elderly people, having limited educative facilities primary health care providers should be concerned about transferring repeated health-protecting messages to their high risk cardiovascular patients.

Biography :

Laura Špejerait�?�? has completed her MD from Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine. She also completed her six months long Internship in various departments and has done her Residency in Family Medicine. Now, she is working as a Senior Doctor Resident at Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics.

Email: laura.spejeraite@gmail.com