COLOMBIA SURVEY SHOWS WOMEN DO NOT KNOW THEIR RISK FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Results from a survey performed by the Colombian Society of Cardiology in collaboration with National Centre of Consultancy* and completed in September 2008, have shown that only 10% of women are aware that heart disease is their number 1 killer. Colombia follows the example of other member organizations in highlighting the urgent need to educate women on their health risks.

Study protocol

The aim of the survey was to establish what Colombian women thought was their biggest health threat. In total 1,000 women aged 21–64 years, were interviewed by telephone using the study protocol as outlined in the article Traking Women’s Awareness of Heart Disease (Mosca et al. Circulation 2004; 109: 573–579).

What did Colombian women think was their main health problem?

• Women thought that breast cancer (29%) was their main health threat, followed by cancer in general (27%) and cervical cancer (10%)
• Only 4% of women thought that it was heart disease

See figure 1

Women think cancer is their number 1 killer

• 10% of women thought heart disease was their main cause of death
• 62% thought cancer was their biggest killer (breast cancer and general cancer combined)

See figure 2

Identifying the need for information

• 37% of women had some knowledge of heart disease, most of which was obtained through television (63%)  
• 12% of women had discussed heart disease with their doctor
• 56% of the interviewees reported to be “not informed” about heart disease, while only 1% were “very informed”
• 80% agreed that heart disease acted in a silent way
• 62% knew that the risk for heart disease increases after the menopause
• 50% of women believed their risk for heart disease to be low
• 46% thought it was difficult to find easy-to-understand information on heart disease and heart attacks

Building a campaign around the results

The results will be used as a basis on which to build the Go Red for Women campaign in Colombia. The urgent need to help women establish their risk for heart disease has been identified as well as the necessity for healthcare professionals to keep them more informed of the symptoms and prevention strategies.

Amongst the activities planned there will be: community-based projects, involving TV and radio stations; medical conferences; and the survey results will be used as a tool to get the health protection minister, and potential sponsors interested in taking the lead in this initiative. Their importance in backing this campaign can be measured when the survey is repeated in 12-months and an increase in awareness levels is demonstrated.

Your Go Red for Women contact in Colombia: Claudia V. Anchique

*an organization specialised in performing surveys, opinion tests etc.