Abstract
OBJECTIVESWe aimed to determine the level of awareness of myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms among the general public in Korea and identify factors affecting awareness of MI symptoms using data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS).METHODSThis is a cross-sectional study using KCHS data. Based on five questions about MI symptoms, participants were divided into an awareness group (replied ‘yes’ to all five questions) and an unawareness group (replied ‘no’ or ‘not sure’ to at least one of five questions) for analysis.RESULTSOf a total of 228,281 participants, 42.4% were aware of MI symptoms. There was a high level of awareness of chest pain and shortness of breath, but a low level of awareness of gastrointestinal symptoms and pain in the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, and back. While women had a higher level of overall awareness relative to men, they showed a lower level of awareness regarding chest pain and discomfort. The factors affecting awareness of MI symptoms were gender, age, education level, occupation, smoking, drinking, physical inactivity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. CONCLUSIONSIn order to enhance awareness of MI symptoms among the general population, appropriate education and promotion efforts must be implemented based on gender, age, education level, and occupation. Moreover, active efforts by the government, educational institutions, and medical institutions are necessary to improve awareness of both typical and atypical MI symptoms. Furthermore, health policies to promote reduced smoking and drinking and increased physical activity, as well as continuous monitoring and management of individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors, are required.
Highlights
Deaths attributable to heart disease occurred at a rate of 62.4 per 100,000 people in 2018, which has steadily increased from 43.4 per 100,000 people in 2008
This is a cross-sectional study using data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) to identify the degree of and factors affecting awareness of myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms among the general population based on gender
For proper emergency treatment within the critical period after onset of MI, it is necessary to be well-aware of the symptoms of MI [3]
Summary
Deaths attributable to heart disease occurred at a rate of 62.4 per 100,000 people in 2018, which has steadily increased from 43.4 per 100,000 people in 2008. The rate of deaths due to ischemic heart disease, such as myocardial infarction (MI). MI occurs when the heart’s coronary artery is completely blocked by a blood clot, resulting in necrosis of the heart muscle. Since it can cause complications like heart failure, arrhythmia, disability, and death, swift response and treatment immediately following MI is the most critical determinant of prognosis [2]. In order to improve the healthcare system’s capability for early intervention, it is important for individuals be aware of the usual symptoms and how to respond so that
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