| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 2 | Page : 95-100 |
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Public knowledge of heart attack symptoms and prevalence of self-reported cardiovascular risk factors in Ilorin, Nigeria
Philip Manma Kolo1, James Ayodele Ogunmodede1, Emmanuel Olatunde Sanya1, Halima Sani Bello2, Maruf Sanusi Ghadamosi2, Bolade Folashade Dele-Ojo2, Ibrahim Adeola Katibi1, Ayodele Babatunde Omotoso1
1 Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin; Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
2 Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Philip Manma Kolo
Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 1459, Ilorin, Kwara
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0189-7969.152022
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Background and objectives: Despite reduction in door-to-balloon time in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), prehospital delay by the patients has remained a major concern as benefits derivable from reperfusion treatments are time dependent. This study aimed at evaluating knowledge and perception of warning signs of heart attack among civil servants in Ilorin, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A pretested structured questionnaire was designed to obtain relevant information on knowledge and perception of heart attack symptoms; and action to be taken if one experiences the condition.
Results: Questionnaires from 601 subjects consisting of 312 (51.9%) males and 289 (48.1%) females were analyzed. Although, 78% of the respondents have heard about heart attack, only 44.4% could discriminate a heart attack symptom from other conditions. Higher proportion of women (50.2%) than men (39.1%) could identify a core symptom of heart attack (P < 0.05). Similarly, higher percentage of participants 40 years and older (48.3%) were more knowledgeable than those younger than 40 years (42.9%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Higher percentage of women reported prior cardiovascular disease/risk factors than men.
Conclusion: We concluded that participants have low knowledge of heart attack symptoms with women being more knowledgeable than their male counterparts. There is the need for community education on heart attack warning signs and the need for early hospital presentation by affected individuals. |
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