Abstract 11529: Sociodemographic and Clinical Variables Predict Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptom Knowledge, Attitudes, abd Beliefs in Adults Without Diagnosed Heart Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Little research has focused on the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptom knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of younger individuals and those without diagnosed heart disease, even though most ACS events are first-time events, and ACS rates are increasing in the young. Purpose: To identify predictors of ACS symptom knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in younger people without diagnosed heart disease. Methods: Participants were recruited from social media platforms in fall 2020 and completed an online survey including the ACS Response Index instrument. Multiple linear regressions were run to model ACS symptom knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs as a function of selected demographic and clinical variables that have documented or theoretical importance. Results: A typical participant from the sample (n=765) was 36.4 years old (SD = 16.7), a woman (n=573; 74.9%), white (n=686; 89.7%), and non-Hispanic/Latino (n=706; 92.3%). Hispanic/Latino participants had lower ACS symptom knowledge and attitude scores than non-Hispanic/Latino participants, (β = -.26, t (757) = -7.79, p = .000; β = -1.32, t (755) = -2.86, p = .000, respectively), and white participants had substantially higher ACS symptom attitude scores than non-white, (β = 1.21, t (755) = 3.35, p = .001). Men had lower knowledge scores than women, (β = -6.48, t (757) = -4.41, p = .000). Additionally, participants who reported being taught by a healthcare professional about signs and symptoms of ACS had substantially higher symptom knowledge and attitude scores compared to those who had not, (β = 3.70, t (757) = 3.01, p = .003; β = 2.15, t (755) = 11.68, p = .000, respectively) and so did those who reported exposure to information about these symptoms in the media compared to those who did not, (β = 6.68, t (757) = 4.37, p = .003; β = 1.07, t (755) = 4.58, p = .000, respectively). Other variables, such as use of avoidance coping, self-perceived risk of heart disease, nicotine use, and self-perceived health, also predicted knowledge, attitude, and/or belief scores. Conclusions: Gender, race, and previous exposure to information about ACS symptoms were particularly important predictors of ACS symptom knowledge and attitudes, though others were significant. Additional research is needed in more diverse samples.