TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiovascular risk knowledge in patients of South Asian origin living with rheumatoid arthritis: data from India and the UK
AU - Kumar, Kanta
AU - Arya, Suvrat
AU - Nightingale, Peter
AU - Sheeran, Tom
AU - Aggarwal, Amita
PY - 2020/10/20
Y1 - 2020/10/20
N2 - Background: South Asians have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk of premature atherosclerosis. We investigated whether there was a substantial difference in the level of CVD risk knowledge among patients of South Asian origin with RA in India and in the UK. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, patients of South Asian origin with RA from India and the UK were recruited from secondary care settings. Data were collected via Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire-Rheumatoid Arthritis (HDFQ-RA), a validated self-completion questionnaire. The HDFQ-RA was translated into Hindi and piloted among patients from South Asian background before use. Additionally, clinical and demographic data was collected. Results: Among 118 patients from each country, 84% were female and they had similar age, education level, employment status and co-morbidities. Patients from India had longer disease duration (5.5 years versus 4.1 years (p = 0.012) whereas those from the UK had higher disease activity score (4.0 + 0.8 versus 3.1 + 0.7, p < 0.01). Regarding modifiable risk factors for CVD only 51.2% from India and 51.3% in the UK were aware of them. However, awareness of the link between RA and increased risk of CVD was even more limited (32.8% in India and 34.4% in UK). Conclusion: Patients of South Asians origin with RA from both countries had limited knowledge about CVD risk. There is a need to educate them about CVD risk during consultation, as this will result in better outcomes.
AB - Background: South Asians have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk of premature atherosclerosis. We investigated whether there was a substantial difference in the level of CVD risk knowledge among patients of South Asian origin with RA in India and in the UK. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, patients of South Asian origin with RA from India and the UK were recruited from secondary care settings. Data were collected via Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire-Rheumatoid Arthritis (HDFQ-RA), a validated self-completion questionnaire. The HDFQ-RA was translated into Hindi and piloted among patients from South Asian background before use. Additionally, clinical and demographic data was collected. Results: Among 118 patients from each country, 84% were female and they had similar age, education level, employment status and co-morbidities. Patients from India had longer disease duration (5.5 years versus 4.1 years (p = 0.012) whereas those from the UK had higher disease activity score (4.0 + 0.8 versus 3.1 + 0.7, p < 0.01). Regarding modifiable risk factors for CVD only 51.2% from India and 51.3% in the UK were aware of them. However, awareness of the link between RA and increased risk of CVD was even more limited (32.8% in India and 34.4% in UK). Conclusion: Patients of South Asians origin with RA from both countries had limited knowledge about CVD risk. There is a need to educate them about CVD risk during consultation, as this will result in better outcomes.
KW - Cardiovascular risk
KW - Cross sectional survey
KW - Ethnicity
KW - Knowledge
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092788342&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s41927-020-00156-1
DO - 10.1186/s41927-020-00156-1
M3 - Article
SN - 2520-1026
VL - 4
JO - BMC Rheumatology
JF - BMC Rheumatology
IS - 1
M1 - 57
ER -