Background: Coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease, congenital and rheumatic heart illnesses are among the heart and blood vessel disorders classified as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Sudden premature cardiovascular deaths among apparently healthy population can be well prevented by the early recognition of cardiovascular risk factors using validated cardiovascular risk prediction tools. Aims and Objectives: The World Health Organization/international society of hypertension (WHO/ISH) Risk Prediction Charts was utilized to estimate the upcoming 10-year risk of CVD events, and the study’s objectives were to identify the risk factors for high CVD risk among urban residents aged ≥40–79 years in Tamil Nadu State, South India. Materials and Methods: A total of 350 participants were selected for a community-based cross-sectional study using a two-stage selection technique. A pretested questionnaire, anthropometry and laboratory research were used to acquire the required data. Finding the relationship between the risk factors and high CVD risk among the subjects was done using both univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results: Mean age of subjects was 55.6 years. Hypertensives and diabetics were 35.4% and 27.4%, respectively. An alarming 75.1% subjects were either overweight or obese. The WHO/ISH chart categorized 20.9% subjects with >10% risk of impending CVDs. Risk factors which independently influenced high cardiovascular risk were “being unmarried” (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 31.76; 95% CI; P=0.009), “positive family history” (aOR 4.13; P=0.017), “Sedentary Occupation” (aOR 3.18; P=0.036), and “alcohol usage” (aOR 3.03; 95% CI [1.06–10.27]; P=0.039). Conclusion: The study has identified that more than one-fifth of the subjects were under the >10% CVD risk category thereby underscoring the immediate need for inclusion of CVD risk scoring tools in routine screening programs in all levels of health care settings as an effective health promotion strategy in curtailing the escalating incidence of CVDs events worldwide.

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke represent the leading cause of mortality globally. Delays in seeking medical attention that result in diagnostic and treatment delays are significant roadblocks in achieving the best possible treatment outcomes for IHD and stroke. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to assess the pattern of healthcare seeking behavior among patients of IHD and stroke in a tertiary care hospital at Salem District in Tamil Nadu, South India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 patients of IHD and stroke. A validated and structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic details, knowledge, and health-care seeking behavior with regard to IHD and stroke based on the Health Belief Model. Results: The mean age of study participants was 60 years with a male preponderance (56%). About 75% of IHD patients and 61.9% of stroke patients had no formal education. The prevalence of hypertension (74%) was higher than diabetes mellitus (45.6%) among the study subjects. The seriousness of the initial symptoms of IHD and stroke was perceived only by 7.75% of IHD patients and 2.23% of stroke patients. Alarmingly, 39.66% of IHD patients and 61.2% of stroke patients were not aware of any risk factors for IHD and Stroke. Only 21.56% of IHD patients and 14.17% of stroke patients sought immediate medical assistance whereas the others ignored the symptoms or did not undergo treatment even after knowing the symptoms of the disease. Conclusion: This study depicted suboptimal healthcare seeking behavior and significant lack of knowledge about risk factors, initial symptoms, preventive measures, and reasons for pre hospital delay related to IHD and stroke. The study yields valuable references to incorporate the pattern of health-care seeking response of the community along with their sociocultural and economic factors in designing and implementation of any health program.