Cardiometabolic risk factors and lifestyle habits in the general population: results of an awareness-raising educational campaign for health empowerment

Objective: Most individuals have little awareness of their health status and do not engage in prevention measures to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular diseases (CVD. We conducted an observational study to assess the prevalence of common cardiometabolic risk factors and modifiable lifestyle measures in the general population. Design and method: During an awareness-raising educational campaign for cardiovascular prevention (October 10th, 2023), a cross-sectional study on consecutive volunteer individuals was conducted. Participants self-presented at local sites and accepted to undergo standard blood pressure (BP) measurement with automated devices and to complete a questionnaire on self-reported demographic and clinical features and lifestyle habits. Open seminars were held to educate on cardiovascular risk factors and related non-pharmacological preventive measures (including diet, physical exercise, smoking cessation). As part of the prevention of peripheral artery disease (PAD), participants received education on how to perform arterial pulses autopalpation. Here, stratification based on self-reported symptoms suggestive of PAD is reported. Descriptive analysis was performed with R. Results: A total of 160 participants took part in the survey, of whom 154 (113 F; mean age 38.5(18.7) years; 83.3% <=70 years) with no PAD symptoms. Their mean BP was 120/3(14.2)/76.2/(11.5) mmHg. Of them, 16.7% had DM2, 40% had hypertension, 50% had hypercholesterolemia, 49.3% were current/former smokers; 67% reported to exercise >=150’/week; 9.1% never/rarely consumed vegetables/fruit. Only 3.7% participants (mean age 56.5(15.5) years) declared symptoms compatible with PAD. Their mean BP was 145(18.7)/89.6(5) mmHg; 83.3% reported having hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and/or never or rarely eating vegetables/fruits; 50% were smokers; 33.3% were sedentary; approximately 4 in 5 had measured their BP in the previous month. All participants were educated on the prevention of common cardiometabolic risk factors and self-examination of peripheral pulses. Conclusions: In the examined relatively young sample of the general population, cardiometabolic risk factors were common in individuals with and without symptoms of PAD, and lifestyle habits could be largely improved. Awareness-raising educational campaign represent a powerful opportunity for health empowerment.