The Effectiveness of Community-based Cardiovascular Risk Factors Screening Program in Rural Community Shopping Mall: Health Takes Heart Study

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly impacts rural communities due to the high CVD prevalence rates compared with urban communities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a community-based screening program for CVD risk factors by employing established risk factor scoring in a rural community. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 1582 participants aged 20 and above participated in the screening program. Data was collected using a self-report questionnaire and measuring other CVD risk factors directly. The metabolic syndrome score and Framingham risk score (FRS) for 10-years of risk of developing heart attack and death were calculated for all participants. Then the level of follow-up with family physicians (FPs) following a screening program for CVD risk factors and a brief one-on-one educational intervention from a Registered Nurse to modify their risk factors was evaluated. The result revealed that 77% of the participants had 1 to 3 risk factors, and 52.7% followed up with FPs. Hypertension and abdominal obesity were the most common risk factors, with 51.1% and 55%, respectively. This study showed that 36.2% of the population had moderate to high FRS (death/MI>20%), and 30% had a high metabolic syndrome score. Community-based CVD risk factor screening successfully identified a high ratio of participants with high CVD risk factors and FRS. The screening program and educational interventions were beneficial in increasing public awareness of CVD risk factors, and a high percentage of participants with high FRS followed up with their FPs.