Recall of diagnosis by men with ischaemic heart disease.

Abstract

SUMMARY In a study of the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease in middle aged men in 24 British towns, the subjects were asked whether a doctor had ever told them that they had any form of cardiovascular disease. Their recall of various diagnoses was related to evidence of ischaemic heart disease obtained by an administered questionnaire on chest pain and electrocardiography. Twenty one per cent of men recalled a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, in one quarter of whom it was ischaemic heart disease. There was a sixfold increase in the prevalence of recall of a diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease over the age range studied. Only one third of the men with possible myocardial infarction on questionnaire recalled such a diagnosis having been made by a doctor. Only half of those with a definite myocardial infarction on an electrocardiogram could recall a diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease. Even in severe (grade 2) angina 40% could not recall being told that they had heart disease. Overall, only one in five of those regarded as having ischaemic heart disease was able to recall such a diagnosis having been made by a doctor, and these were likely to be those most severely affected. Ischaemic heart disease is common in middle aged British men, but most of those affected are apparently not aware of their condition. This low level of awareness among patients and doctors may contribute to a lack of public concern regarding the need for action to reduce the incidence of ischaemic heart disease in Great Britain.Ischaemic heart disease is extremely common in middle aged men in Great Britain and is a major cause of death.' In a recent study of 7735 men aged 40-59 years, drawn from general practices in 24 towns in England, Wales, and Scotland, one quarter had some evidence of ischaemic heart disease on a questionnaire on chest pain or on electrocardiography.2 In this study we examined the awareness of these men concerning the disease by which they are affected and indirectly assessed how much of this burden of illness in the population is apparently recognised by medical practitioners. Subjects and methodsThe British Regional Heart Study includes 7735 men aged 40-59 years randomly selected from the age-sex registers of group general practices in 24 towns in

Relation between socioeconomic status, employment, and health during economic change, 1973-93

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Trends in rates of different forms of diagnosed coronary heart disease, 1978 to 2000: prospective, population based study of British men

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Is the prevalence of coronary heart disease falling in British men?

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