The Relationship between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease in African Men in the North-West Province

Background: In South Africa, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is often underestimated. CVD occurs commonly, especially in urban areas with two thirds of Africans presenting with multiple risk factors for CVD. Although several studies have been done on the high prevalence and burden of CVD, there is limited research investigating possible relationships between CV risk factors and CVD knowledge. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between CV risk factors and knowledge of CVD in a group of African men. Subjects and Method: The study included 118 African men employed at the Vaalharts Water Scheme, North-West Province, South Africa. Participants completed questionnaires on general health information, as well as a Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire. Individual health screening included anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference and body mass index), blood pressure (BP), rapid testing of blood glucose and cholesterol. By using Pearson correlations we determined whether CVD knowledge scores relate to individual CV risk factors. Results: The mean CV knowledge score was 75% with an acceptable Cronbach’s alpha of 0.64 (CA=0.64). Participants had a mean BP of 146/92 mmHg, which falls in the hypertensive range of the European Hypertension guidelines. Their fasting blood glucose levels of 5.8 ± 2.0 mmol/L were higher than the normal cut-off range of 5.6 mmol/L. Their body mass index was 25.9 ± 5.9 kg/m². Overall, we observed a lack of association between CV risk factors and CVD knowledge. Only one borderline significant association existed between triglycerides and CVD knowledge (r=0.167; p=0.071). Conclusions: Despite African men having an increased CV risk and a relatively good understanding of CVD risk factors, there seems to be a disconnect between their CV risk and CVD knowledge. Our results suggest that a good CVD knowledge does not appear to influence changes in CV risk factor levels.