Cardiovascular risk knowledge and related behaviors among youths: a cross-sectional study in a sample of Italian undergraduates

Aim: A great number of individual and environmental risk factors have been identified for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In the perspective of CVD prevention, people’s awareness and risk perception about these factors is fundamental. This cross-sectional study was performed to analyse the undergraduates’ knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and to highlight possible associations between knowledge and adoption of health-related behaviors. Subject and methods: During the years 2021 and 2022, a web-based questionnaire was administered to students from three Italian universities in order to collect their socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics and assess knowledge about a set of factors related with CVDs. Results: A total of 744 students (mean age 23.9±5.4, 62.5% F) participated in the survey. Nearly 90% of the sample identified correctly the most common factors associated with CVDs, while lower proportions identified the association with the remaining proposed factors, especially the environmental ones. Better knowledge was mainly associated with greater age and attendance of a healthcare-related degree course. No correlations were found between knowledge and healthy behaviors. Conclusion: Information programs about CVD risk and how it can be controlled should be offered to this target population.