Insights into cardiovascular health: patient perspectives from a South African tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the preventable causes of death. Increasing patient knowledge of CVD may lead to success in the prevention and control of CVD, and an improved quality of life. AIMS: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and perception of patients with CVD, and the need for regular monitoring and medication compliance at a state tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 191 adults with high cardiovascular (CV) risk in the vascular and diabetic outpatient clinics. A researcher-administered questionnaire was used to gather responses and a point-of-care-test (POCT) assessing glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipogram was done. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 54 years, with a female predominance (64.4%), of which 56.5% were familiar with the term 'CVD' and 97.4% acknowledging the importance of attending follow-up visits. Despite having heard of CVD conditions, many participants did not have a sufficient understanding. There was an association of knowledge with medication adherence, socio-economic status, monthly income, and level of education. Patients' perceptions of disease control did not align with values measured in POCTs. Approximately 30% of participants achieved target blood pressure levels and 25% achieved target HbA1c levels. Healthcare professionals were well recognised in the role of CVD prevention and monitoring. CONCLUSION: Although more than half of the study participants had knowledge of CVD, target blood pressure and HbA1c were only achieved in approximately one-third and a quarter of the patients, respectively. A significant gap exists between self-perception and knowledge among participants.