Abstract P204: Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors and Perceived Risk among Overweight and Obese Adults
Authors: Christopher C Imes, Meghan Mattos, Yaguang Zheng, Lei Ye, Edvin Music, Cynthia A Danford, Susan M Sereika, Eileen Chasens, Lora E Burke
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and plays a role in other CHD risk factors including dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. With nearly two-thirds of the adult US population being overweight and obese, it is important to know how these individuals perceive their CHD risk. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported CHD risk factors and perceived CHD risk among overweight and obese adults. Methods: Demographic data, CHD risk factors, and perceived lifetime CHD risk were collected via electronic surveys using REDCap, an Internet-based data capture tool, of overweight and obese adults enrolled in a Weight Loss Research Registry. CHD risk factors were assessed using an investigator-developed survey of self-reported diagnoses of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, family history of CHD, and current smoking status. A risk factor ranking was assigned to each participant ranging from 0 to 5, with one point given for each of the aforementioned risk factors. Perceived lifetime CHD risk was assessed using a visual analogue scale with a range of 0 (No Risk) to 100 (High Risk). Linear regression and Pearson Correlation were used to analyze the data. Results: The response rate was 44.7% (N = 151) from 338 eligible adults. Respondents were mostly female (91%), White (81.5%), 51.3±10.4 years old with 16.2±2.9 years of education, 65.6% had annual household incomes ≥ $50,000. Males reported a higher perceived risk compared to females (77.6±18.0 vs. 64.9 ±21.5, p=.03). There was no difference in perceived risk based on age, race, education, or income. The prevalence of reported risk factors in the sample was as follows: 49.6% (n=75) had at least one first degree-relative with CHD, 32.5% (n=49) had hypertension, 31.8% (n=48) had hyperlipidemia, 3.9% (n=6) had diabetes and 3.3% (n=5) reported currently smoking. Perceived CHD risk was associated with the number of CHD risk factors (p&lt;.001). The mean perceived risk increased incrementally as the number of risk factors increased: 56.5±24.8 for 0 risk factors (n=46), 65.1±17.6 for 1 risk factor (n=53), 74.3±18.4 for 2 risk factors (n=30), 77.0±17.3 for 3 risk factors (n=19), and 79.7±20.5 for respondents (n=3) with 4 risk factors. No respondent reported 5 risk factors. Conclusions: In this sample, the number of self-reported CHD risk factor was associated with perceived CHD risk (r= .353, p&lt;.001). Male respondents had a higher perceived risk compared to females (77.6±18.0 vs. 64.9±21.5); however, the percent of males in the Registry was significantly lower than females (9% vs. 91%) This might suggest that males may require a higher perceived risk before enrolling in a Registry for weight loss studies. For these respondents, awareness of CHD risk factors and their health implications could be a motivator for enrollment in the Registry.