Doctor-patient communication about personal cardiovascular risk: a missing piece of the prevention puzzle?

Type of funding sources: None.

Widespread awareness of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (MCRF) may be fundamental to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the lack of doctor-patient communication (DPC) about personal cardiovascular risk (pCVR) could affect prevention achievement.

To assess the frequency of DPC about pCVR as potential target for preventive strategy improvement in a very high risk country.

The pilot study included convenience sample of 795 adults from Serbia divided in two groups, depending on the presence of at least one of five MCRF (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking). They were compared according to demographics (age, gender, education, incomes, place of residence), awareness of MCRF as contributing factors to CVD, interest in pCVR, preferable source of information about pCVR and frequency of DPC about pCVR. The data were collected by voluntary filling of survey with multiple choice questions from April 1st to June 30th 2022.

There were significantly more respondents with MCRF (75% vs 25%, p<0.01). Those with MCRF were older (50±14 vs 39±11, p<0.01), less educated (49% vs 22% with only high school or less, p<0.01) and had lower incomes (53% vs 40% with less than average incomes, p<0.01). No significant difference was observed according to gender (43% vs 38% of males, p>0.05) and place of residence (85% vs 90% from urban area, p>0.05). The majority in both groups showed high awareness of MCRF as contributing factors to CVD (95% vs 96% for hypertension, 95% vs 95% for hyperlipidemia, 89% vs 85% for diabetes mellitus, 93% vs 91% for obesity, 83% vs 84% for smoking; p>0.05). Both groups were very interested in pCVR (89% vs 89%, p>0.05) and opted for their doctors as the most preferable source of information about pCVR (89% vs 91%, p>0.05). On contrary, only the minority in both groups had DPC about their pCVR, although it was higher in the group with MCRF (34% vs 14%, p<0.01) and increased proportionally to the number of present MCRF.

The study showed high awareness of MCRF and high interest in pCVR, independently of MCRF presence or demographic characteristics. Despite that, there is a notable lack of DPC about pCVR. Since doctors have been chosen as the most desirable source of information, they should make efforts to discuss pCVR with patients, as this may be the crucial part of the preventive strategy.