Awareness of heart disease risk factors and personal risk after a prior cardiovascular event

Awareness of Risk Factors and Perception of Cardiovascular Risk in Secondary Prevention: A Comparison Between Women and Men

This survey will see if adults with prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease understand general and sex-specific risk factors and how at risk they feel of future events.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Milan)
• Trial ID: NCT07521436 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an observational survey enrolling adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to measure knowledge of general and sex/gender-specific risk factors and perceived risk of recurrent events. Participants complete questionnaires about their awareness of risk factors (including sex-specific conditions) and their perception of future cardiovascular risk. The study compares responses between women and men and examines whether having had a prior event is associated with changes in knowledge or risk perception. No medical or behavioral interventions are provided as part of the project.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with documented atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease, peripheral arterial disease, or atherosclerotic aortic disease) who can give informed consent are eligible.

Not a fit: People without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, those with non-qualifying cerebrovascular events (e.g., primary intracerebral hemorrhage), or those unable to consent are not eligible and will not directly benefit from this survey.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If gaps in knowledge or risk perception are identified, the findings could guide targeted education and follow-up strategies to improve prevention and adherence.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies in primary prevention have shown low awareness of cardiovascular risk—especially among women—but there are limited or no data specifically focused on awareness and risk perception in secondary prevention, making this a novel, gap-filling effort.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria:

* Male or female participants aged ≥ 18 years at the time of signing informed consent.
* Individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), defined as at least one of the following:
* Ischemic heart disease (e.g., documented myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, or ≥50% coronary stenosis in at least two coronary territories);
* Cerebrovascular disease (e.g., documented ischemic stroke; transient ischemic attack, primary intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage are not qualifying conditions; carotid stenting or endarterectomy);
* Peripheral arterial disease (e.g., peripheral arterial intervention, stent placement, surgical revascularization, lower limb amputation due to obstructive disease, or intermittent claudication with ABI \<0.90 in the past 12 months);
* Atherosclerotic aortic disease (e.g., abdominal or descending thoracic aortic aneurysm).
* Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability or difficulty in completing the questionnaires in Italian and/or functional illiteracy.
* History of or current severe psychiatric disorder that could compromise the reliability of questionnaire responses.
* Refusal or withdrawal of informed consent.

Where this trial is running

Milan

• Istituti Clinici Scientifici IRCCS Maugeri — Milan, Italy (Recruiting)

Conditions Cardiovascular Disease