Engaging Social Activities Prevent Stroke and Myocardial Infraction by Raising Awareness of Warning Symptoms: A Cross-sectional Survey Study

Overview

Journal Front Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2023 Feb 2

PMID 36726633

Authors

Gahyeon Kim

Hyeokjoo Jang

Sebin Kwon

Bumyeol Lee

Suk-Yong Jang

Wonjeong Chae

Sung-In Jang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) are medical emergencies, and early treatment within the golden hour is crucial for good prognosis. Adequate knowledge about the warning symptoms can shorten the onset-to-door time. Various factors affect the level of awareness, including social activity. This study aimed to determine if engaging in social activity is associated with the awareness of the warning symptoms of stroke and MI.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 451,793 participants from the 2017 and 2019 Korea Community Health Survey. Based on five questions for each of stroke and MI symptoms, participants were divided into an awareness group (replied "Yes" to all five questions) and unawareness group. Engagement in social activities (i.e., religious, friendship, leisure, and volunteer activity) was evaluated through a questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relation between social activity and awareness of warning symptoms.

Results: Overall, 52.6% participants were aware of the warning symptoms of stroke, and 45.8% of MI. Regular engagement in at least one social activity, particularly friendship or volunteer activity, was associated with better awareness of the warning symptoms, both stroke (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.20-1.23) and MI (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.20-1.24). Additionally, more diverse types of social activities were associated with higher levels of awareness. Relationship between social activity and awareness showed positive association with participants older than 60 years, rural residents, or with low socioeconomic status.

Conclusion: Engagement in social activity was significantly associated with better knowledge about the warning symptoms of stroke and MI. For early hospital treatment after symptom onset, participation in social activities could be beneficial.

References

Tran P, Tran L . Influence of rurality on the awareness of myocardial infarction symptoms in the US. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis. 2019; 13:1753944719891691. PMC: 6893939. DOI: 10.1177/1753944719891691. View

Kim E, Hwang S, Kim A . Knowledge of stroke and heart attack symptoms and risk factors among rural elderly people: a questionnaire survey. Korean Circ J. 2011; 41(5):259-64. PMC: 3116104. DOI: 10.4070/kcj.2011.41.5.259. View

Yeo L, Paliwal P, Teoh H, Seet R, Chan B, Wakerley B . Early and continuous neurologic improvements after intravenous thrombolysis are strong predictors of favorable long-term outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2013; 22(8):e590-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.07.024. View

Kim Y, Park S, Bae H, Cho A, Cho Y, Han M . Stroke awareness decreases prehospital delay after acute ischemic stroke in Korea. BMC Neurol. 2011; 11:2. PMC: 3023649. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-11-2. View

Kim H, Lee H, Kim K, Park H, Park K, Kang G . The General Public's Awareness of Early Symptoms of and Emergency Responses to Acute Myocardial Infarction and Related Factors in South Korea: A National Public Telephone Survey. J Epidemiol. 2016; 26(5):233-41. PMC: 4848321. DOI: 10.2188/jea.JE20150074. View

Narcisse M, Rowland B, Long C, Felix H, McElfish P . Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms Knowledge of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States: Findings From the National Health Interview Survey. Health Promot Pract. 2019; 22(1):122-131. DOI: 10.1177/1524839919845669. View

Han C, Kim H, Lee S, Chung J . Knowledge and Poor Understanding Factors of Stroke and Heart Attack Symptoms. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(19). PMC: 6801587. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193665. View

Lee H, Cho S, Lee H, Baek J, Bae J, Chung W . Korea Heart Disease Fact Sheet 2020: Analysis of Nationwide Data. Korean Circ J. 2021; 51(6):495-503. PMC: 8176075. DOI: 10.4070/kcj.2021.0097. View

Shah M, Makinde K, Thomas P . Cognitive and behavioral aspects affecting early referral of acute stroke patients to hospital. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2007; 16(2):71-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2006.11.004. View

10.

Park K . Factors affecting awareness of myocardial infarction symptoms among the general public in Korea. Epidemiol Health. 2020; 42:e2020032. PMC: 7340619. DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2020032. View

11.

Kwon H, Jeong J, Choi M . Social Relationships and Suicidal Ideation Among the Elderly Who Live Alone in Republic of Korea: A Logistic Model. Inquiry. 2018; 55:46958018774177. PMC: 5954569. DOI: 10.1177/0046958018774177. View

12.

Mahajan S, Valero-Elizondo J, Khera R, Desai N, Blankstein R, Blaha M . Variation and Disparities in Awareness of Myocardial Infarction Symptoms Among Adults in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2019; 2(12):e1917885. PMC: 6991230. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.17885. View

13.

Yang J, Park E, Lee S, Lee J, Choi D, Chae W . The Association between Social Contacts and Depressive Symptoms among Elderly Koreans. Psychiatry Investig. 2018; 15(9):861-868. PMC: 6166029. DOI: 10.30773/pi.2018.06.28.1. View

14.

Oh G, Lee K, Kim K, Lee Y . Differences in the awareness of stroke symptoms and emergency response by occupation in the Korean general population. PLoS One. 2019; 14(6):e0218608. PMC: 6581263. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218608. View

15.

Oh G, Moon J, Lee Y, Park H, Park K, Yun Y . Public Awareness of Stroke and Its Predicting Factors in Korea: a National Public Telephone Survey, 2012 and 2014. J Korean Med Sci. 2016; 31(11):1703-1710. PMC: 5056200. DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.11.1703. View

16.

Nicholson N . A review of social isolation: an important but underassessed condition in older adults. J Prim Prev. 2012; 33(2-3):137-52. DOI: 10.1007/s10935-012-0271-2. View

17.

Swanoski M, Lutfiyya M, Amaro M, Akers M, Huot K . Knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptomology: a cross-sectional comparison of rural and non-rural US adults. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12:283. PMC: 3365868. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-283. View

18.

Gumbinger C, Reuter B, Stock C, Sauer T, Wietholter H, Bruder I . Time to treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and outcome of stroke in clinical practice: retrospective analysis of hospital quality assurance data with comparison with results from randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 2014; 348:g3429. PMC: 4039388. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g3429. View

19.

Nicol M, Thrift A . Knowledge of risk factors and warning signs of stroke. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2007; 1(2):137-47. PMC: 1993942. DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.1.2.137.64085. View

20.

Umberson D, Crosnoe R, Reczek C . Social Relationships and Health Behavior Across Life Course. Annu Rev Sociol. 2011; 36:139-157. PMC: 3171805. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-soc-070308-120011. View