Attitudes To Heart Attacks & Strokes

Awareness among people aged 35 or more of the risks of having a heart attack or stroke is patchy, according to research by MORI. Some of the people most at risk are not concerned at the thought of suffering either.

The survey -- for Sanofi-Synthelabo and Bristol-Myers Squibb -- focuses on public attitudes to cardiovascular disease, the understanding of the link between heart attack and stroke, and the awareness of the role of lifestyle changes and medication -- including antiplatelet therapy for reducing the risk.

Over half of people aged 35+ are concerned about having a stroke or heart attack, but the majority don't realise that the two are linked. More than half (56%) are concerned at the thought of having a heart attack or stroke. Nine in 10 (89%) are aware that, if you have had a heart attack, you are at a greater risk of having another heart attack, and similarly with stroke (88%). Over half are unaware that, if you have had a heart attack, there is a greater risk of having a stroke, and vice versa.

Many people aged 35+ aren't aware that you need to take antiplatelet treatment to reduce the chances of having another heart attack or stroke. Nearly half (46%) are unaware that they can reduce the risk of another heart attack by taking aspirin, and nearly two thirds (63%) are unaware that they can reduce the risk of having another ischaemic stroke simply by taking aspirin.

Less affluent people aged 35+ (who are most at risk of heart attack and stroke) are even less aware of antiplatelet agents for reducing the risk of these diseases. Almost two thirds (63%) of professionals and those in managerial occupations (ABs) say that taking aspirin will reduce the risk of heart attack, compared with fewer than half (47%) of semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers, and those reliant on state benefits (DEs). Two in five (41%) ABs say that taking aspirin will reduce the risk of stroke, compared with a third (34%) of DEs.

Many people aged 35+ (even if aware that taking an antiplatelet agent after a heart attack or stroke can be beneficial) are unaware that you would need to take it for the long-term treatment of both conditions. More than two in five of those aged 35+ are unaware that they would need to take a blood-thinning agent for the rest of their lives after a heart attack or stroke (43% and 44%, respectively).

People aged 35+ are generally far more worried about the effects of a first heart attack or stroke than the possibility of a repeat incident of either. After a heart attack, one in five (21%) are concerned about being severely disabled, 17% are concerned about being less mobile, and 18% are concerned about losing their independence, yet, only one in 10 (11%) are concerned about having another heart attack.

After a stroke, more than two in five (43%) of those aged 35+ are concerned about being paralysed, a third (34%) are concerned about being severely disabled, and a quarter (24%) are concerned about a loss of independence. Yet, only one in 20 (six per cent) are concerned about having another stroke, and only one in 10 are concerned about dying prematurely from having a stroke.

Heart attack is more widely seen as fatal; stroke is more commonly associated with long-term disability. Many more people aged 35+ worry about the possibility of death after a heart attack than after stroke (29% compared with 10%, respectively). By contrast, people aged 35+ are more likely to worry about the after-effects of a stroke on their quality of life and long-term health (64%, compared with 34% for heart attack).

Many people aged 35+ believe that their doctor would advise lifestyle changes and/or the need to take medication to reduce the chances of a repeat stroke or heart attack. Around nine in 10 (93%) believe that their doctor would advise a change in lifestyle to reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack. A similar proportion (89%) believe that their doctor would advise a change in lifestyle to reduce the risk of a repeat stroke. Eating healthily/losing weight is the lifestyle change that people aged 35+ most commonly think that their doctor would advise, to reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack or stroke (three quarters and two thirds, respectively). Around two thirds (67%) believe that their doctor would advise them to stop smoking to reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack. A similar proportion (63%) believe that their doctor would advise them to stop smoking to reduce the risk of a repeat stroke¹. Around three quarters (77%) believe that their doctor would advise taking medication to reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack. Around seven in 10 (69%) believe that their doctor would advise taking medication to reduce the risk of a repeat stroke.

There are important regional differences in concern about heart attack and stroke, although these do not always reflect the incidence of CVD. There is a positive correlation between people living in the north of England and Northern Ireland, where the death rate from CHD is higher, and people who are more likely to express concern about heart attack. However, people living in Scotland show lower concern about the risk of heart disease than might be expected, given the much higher than average death rate from this condition there.

Note 1: This figure is based on all respondents, not just smokers.

Technical details

• 2,757 adults aged 35+
• Interviewed face-to-face, in-home over 2 waves
• Between 4-8 July and 18-24 July 2002
• 191 and 192 sampling points throughout the United Kingdom
• An asterisk (*) indicates a percentage of less than 0.5% but greater than zero
• Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile
• Base all unless otherwise stated.

Q1. How concerned or unconcerned are you at the thought of having a ...?

Q2. Which, if any, of the following do you think you would you do if you thought you were having a heart attack?

Q3. Which, if any, of the following do you think you would you do if you thought you were having a stroke?

Q4. What, if anything, would worry you about suffering from a stroke?

Q5. What, if anything, would worry you about suffering from a heart attack?

Q6. Now I will read you a list of statements. For each, would you tell me whether you generally believe it to be true or false?

Q7. If you had a heart attack what steps would you expect your doctor to advise you to take to reduce the chances of you having another heart attack?

Q8. If you had a stroke what steps would you expect your doctor to advise you to take to reduce the chances of you having another stroke?

Q9. As you may know, taking a blood thinning or anti-platelet agent after a person has had a heart attack can sometimes prove beneficial. If you had a heart attack, for how long do you think you would need to take a blood thinning agent?

Q10. As you may know, taking a blood thinning or anti-platelet agent after a person has had a stroke can sometimes prove beneficial. If you had a stroke, for how long do you think you would need to take a blood thinning agent?