Enfermedades cardiovasculares: ¿qué perciben las mujeres de Uruguay? / Cardiovascular diseases: what do women in Uruguay perceive? / Doenças cardiovasculares: ¿o que percebem as mulheres no Uruguai?

Antecedentes: aunque la enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) es la principal causa de muerte de las mujeres en Uruguay, ellas no lo perciben. Objetivos: el propósito de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción, el conocimiento y las conductas de prevención de las ECV entre mujeres por grupos de edad, nivel socioeconómico (NSE) y región, así como su conocimiento sobre factores de riesgo, síntomas y comportamientos cardiosaludables. Métodos: en 2020 se encuestaron vía web 700 mujeres de entre 20 y 70 años, residentes en Uruguay (Montevideo: 301, interior del país: 399). Se pautó publicidad en redes sociales para convocar a la población objetivo a participar. Las integrantes de la muestra, que completaron una encuesta autoadministrada, presentaban distribución similar a la población general en cuanto al NSE y la edad. Resultados: las mujeres encuestadas percibieron a la ECV como principal problema de salud (PS) en el 10% y como primera CM en el 18%. Las montevideanas, comparadas con las del interior, tuvieron mayores niveles de percepción (PS: 13% vs. 7%-CM: 20% vs. 17%); así como las de NSE alto vs. las de medio-bajo (PS: 17% vs. 8%-CM: 29% vs. 14%). La percepción y el conocimiento sobre ECV son bajos, las jóvenes son las menos informadas (escasos/muy escasos: 62%). Los médicos advierten poco sobre síntomas (23%) y estrategias de prevención (48%). Conclusión: la percepción de las mujeres encuestadas sobre la ECV es baja, existiendo brechas por edad, NSE y región. En la consulta, los médicos informan poco sobre el tema. Es necesario un esfuerzo continuo para mejorar la percepción de las mujeres sobre la ECV en su propio género, intentando llegar principalmente a las poblaciones de mayor riesgo.

Background: although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death for women in Uruguay, they do not perceive it. Objectives: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception, knowledge, and prevention behaviors of CVD among women by age group, socioeconomic level (SEL), and region, as well as knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and heart-healthy behaviors. Method and result: online survey of 700 women residents of Uruguay (Montevideo: 301, interior of the country: 399), was conducted in 2020, ages between 20 and 70 years. Advertising was scheduled on social networks, calling the target population to participate in that research by completing a selfadministered survey, obtaining a set of cases with a similar distribution to the general population in terms of SEL and age. CVD was perceived in 10% as the main health problem (HP) and 18% as the first CD. Women from Montevideo vs. interior had higher levels of perception (HP: 13% vs. 7%-CD: 20% vs. 17%); as well as those of high vs. those of mediumlow SEL (HP: 17% vs. 8%-CD: 29% vs. 14%). The perception and knowledge about CVD are low, with young women being the least informed (little/very little: 62%). Doctors report little on symptoms (23%) and prevention (48%). Conclusion: the perception of the women surveyed about CVD is low, with gaps by age, NSE and region. Doctors inform little about this topic during clinical visits. A continuous effort is necessary to improve women's perception of CVD in their own gender, trying to reach mainly the populations at greatest risk.

Antecedentes: embora a doença cardiovascular (DCV) seja a principal causa de morte das mulheres no Uruguai, elas não a percebem. Objetivos: o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a percepção, conhecimento e comportamentos de prevenção de DCV entre mulheres por faixa etária, nível socioeconômico (NSE) e região, bem como o conhecimento de fatores de risco, sintomas, doenças cardíacas e comportamentos saudáveis para o coração. Método e resultado: em 2020, 700 mulheres entre 20 e 70 anos, residentes no Uruguai, foram entrevistadas via web (Montevidéu: 301, interior do país: 399). A publicidade foi agendada nas redes sociais, convocando a população alvo a participar da referida pesquisa através do preenchimento de um inquérito autoaplicável, obtendose um conjunto de casos com distribuição semelhante à população geral em termos de NSE e idade. As mulheres pesquisadas perceberam a DCV como principal problema de saúde (PS) em 10% e como principal CM em 18%. As mulheres de Montevidéu vs. interior apresentaram níveis mais elevados de percepção (PS: 13% vs. 7%-CM: 20% vs. 17%); bem como as de NSE alto vs. as de médiobaixo (PS: 17% vs. 8%-CM: 29% vs. 14%). A percepção e o conhecimento sobre DCV são baixos, sendo as mulheres jovens as menos informadas (pouco/muito pouco: 62%). Os médicos informam pouco sobre síntomas (23%) e prevenção (48%). Conclusão: a percepção das mulheres pesquisadas sobre DCV é baixa, com diferenças por idade, NSE e região. Os médicos informam pouco sobre esse tema durante as consultas clínicas. É necessário um esforço contínuo para melhorar a percepção das mulheres sobre as DCV em seu próprio gênero, tentando atingir principalmente as populações de maior risco.

Encuesta de percepción de la enfermedad cardiovascular de la mujer por la mujer / Perception survey of cardiovascular disease for women by women

Antecedentes: las enfermedades del sistema circulatorio siguen siendo la primera causa de muerte en ambos sexos en Uruguay, no exisitiendo clara conciencia de ello. El objetivo de la encuesta fue evaluar la conciencia, percepción y conocimiento de la enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) de la mujer, por la mujer. Método y resultado: se encuestaron 131 mujeres seleccionadas al azar, funcionarias no médicas ni enfermeras, de tres centros hospitalarios entre 1 de marzo y 15 de abril de 2012, con un cuestionario destinado a evaluar la percepción de la ECV como problema de salud y causa de muerte. La edad media fue 42 ± 12 años. El cáncer fue percibido como uno de los tres problemas más importantes de salud en 86%, seguido por la ECV en 33%. Con respecto a las tres causas más frecuentes de muerte, 63% nombró al cáncer en general, 54% muerte violenta, 49% cáncer de mama, 42% enfermedades cardíacas y 18% ataque cerebral. Solo 20,7% consideró que las enfermedades del corazón, son la primera causa de muerte en la mujeres, no observándose diferencias significativas en esta proporción de acuerdo al nivel de instrucción (chi cuadrado 0,48, p=0,92).La mayoría de las mujeres encuestadas (97%) acudieron a control médico en los últimos dos años, pero solo un tercio recibió información sobre la ECV y su prevención. Conclusiones: la percepción de las mujeres encuestadas es que el cáncer es el principal problema de salud y causa demuerte en su género; sólo 1 de cada 5 adjudicó a la ECV como la primera causa de muerte. Si bien la mujer conoce los síntomas, conoce menos los factores de riesgo y las conductas que reducen la ECV.

Cardiovascular disease still is the main cause of death in both men and women in Uruguay but this fact is ignored by most women. It is also vastly ignored by women belonging to western countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and perception of cardiovascular diseases of women by women.Method and results: 131 women were randomly selected in three hospitals between March 1 and April 4, 2012. Doctors and nurses were excluded. They answered a questionnaire that was prepared to evaluate the perception of cardiovascular disease as a health problem and cause of death in women. Mean age of the selected population was 42 ± 12 years. Cancer was perceived as one of the three more important health problems by 86% of the population, followed by heart diseases in 33%. When women in this group were asked for the three most frequent causes of death, 63% mentioned cancer in general, 54% mentioned violent death, 49% breast cancer, 42% cardiac diseases and 18% stroke. Only 20.7% of the selected group considered heart attack as first cause of death, there were no significant difference of proportions between different level of education groups (p=0,92). Ninety seven percent of the surveyed women had gone to see a doctor for health control in the last two years, but only one third of them received information about cardiovascular diseases and its prevention.Conclusion: the perception of the surveyed women is that cancer is their main health problem and cause of death. Just 1 of 5 considered cardiovascular disease as the main cause of death. In spite women were aware of the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, their knowledge of risk factors and their prevention is far less known.