Impact of the Mexican education system and age on basic knowledge about ischemic heart disease in the pre-COVID-19 era
Francisco J. Roldán-Gómez, Clínica de Miocardiopatias, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Eduardo Soriano, Dirección General, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez. Ciudad de México, México
Gabriela Rodríguez-Echeverría, Departamento de Consulta Externa, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Ma. del Carmen Lacy-Niebla, Departamento de Consulta Externa, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Fernando López-Alvis, Dirección General, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez. Ciudad de México, México
Rodrigo González-Oscoy, Dirección General, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez. Ciudad de México, México
Luis S. Rivera-Román, Departamento de Consulta Externa, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Frida Rivera-Gutiérrez, Departamento de Consulta Externa, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Antonio Arauz, Dirección General, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Ciudad de México, México
Background and Objective: To assess general population’s knowledge about ischemic heart disease (IHD) and its relationship to years of schooling in Mexico. Method: Analysis of surveys designed to measure knowledge about IHD applied in Mexico City. Results: 530 surveys were analyzed. 51.7% were women. The median age was 43 years (IQR: 15-92) and the median of schooling was 18 years (IQR: 15-18). 64.5% of respondents scored less than 50% of correct answers. A slight increase in the knowledge level and years of study (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.101) was observed, but with low correlation indexes (r = 0.215 and r = 0.071, respectively). Conclusions: Knowledge about IHD in general population is deficient and doesn’t increase adequately neither with age nor academic studies. It is necessary to review our health education strategies.
Keywords: Ischemic heart disease. Health education. Public health and pre-COVID-19.
