Awareness of cardiovascular health in Russian population: comparison between self-reported and objectively measured parameters

Abstract

Background Russia has a higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate compared to other European countries. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus among Russian adults with the objective presence of these conditions. Material and Methods We used cross-sectional data from a general population-based study of Russian adults aged 35-69 years, conducted in Arkhangelsk and Novosibirsk in 2015-2018 (Know Your Heart study, N=3803). Direct standardization by age and sex using Standard European Population 2013 was used to estimate the prevalence of awareness of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus among study participants with these CVD-related health conditions. Logistic regression models were used to investigate socio-economic, behavioural and health characteristics associated with the awareness for each of the three conditions. Results Age- and sex-standardized awareness prevalence among persons hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes with was 79.3%, 44.7% and , 61.2% respectively. Older age, history of previous cardiovascular events, obesity, not being a smoker, and female sex were associated with higher odds of being aware of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. Low household income and previous heart events were associated with higher odds of being aware of diabetes mellitus. Conclusions The proportions of awareness of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus among Russian adults with these conditions were relatively close to the same proportions estimated in populations of European countries. Therefore, we found no evidence that the higher CVD mortality in Russia, compared to CVD mortality in European countries, is explained by a lower awareness of CVD risk factors.