Data from: Comparison of self-perceived cardiovascular disease risk among smokers with Framingham and PROCAM scores: a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomised controlled trial

Objectives: Previous studies suggest that smokers have a misperception of
their 10-year cardiovascular risk. We aimed to compare 10-year
cardiovascular risk self-perception and calculated risk among smokers
willing to quit and assess the determinants of a possible misperception.
Design: Cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data from a
randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation. Participants: 514
participants, mean age 51.1 years, 46% women, 98% Caucasian. Eligible
participants were regular smokers, aged between 40 and 70 years, with a
consumption of at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least a year. None of
them had experienced CVD before. Exclusion criteria comprised history of
myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart
failure, peripheral vascular disease, carotid atherosclerosis or cardiac
arrhythmia. Participants with renal or liver failure, psychiatric
disorders, substance and alcohol abuse and with smoking cessation
therapies were excluded. Interventions: Participants were asked to
estimate their 10-year cardiovascular risk using a 3-item scale
corresponding to high, moderate and low risk categories. We compared their
risk perception with the Framingham and Procam score. We used
multi-variable adjusted logistic regression models to determine
characteristics of participants who underestimate their risk vs. those who
correctly or overestimate it. Results: Between 38-42% of smokers correctly
perceived their 10-year cardiovascular risk, 39-50% overestimated their
10-year cardiovascular risk while 12-19% underestimated it compared to
their calculated 10-year cardiovascular risk depending on the score used.
Underestimation of 10-year cardiovascular risk was associated with male
gender (OR 8.16; CI 3.83-17.36), older age (OR 1.06; CI 1.02-1.09), and
the presence of hyperlipidemia (OR 2.71; CI 1.47-5.01) and diabetes
mellitus (OR 13.93; CI 3.83-50.66). Conclusions: Among smokers,
misperception of their 10-year cardiovascular risk is common, with one
fifth underestimating it. These findings may help physicians target
patients with such characteristics to help them change their health
behavior and adherence to risk-reduction therapy.