The relationship between socioeconomic status and knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors and its preventive practices among urban dwellers in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

To assess knowledge, practices on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and practices among an urban population in Selangor. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted involving 336 adults in 161 houses randomly selected from three towns in Selangor, Malaysia. The mean knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors was moderately high among participants. Socioeconomic characteristics (SES) significantly associated with higher mean scores were being in middle age, female, high-income group and never smokers. Although the general knowledge on preventing cardiovascular risks among the urban population was moderately high, their lifestyle practices on preventing cardiovascular disease were moderate.