CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 33, No 4, July/August 2022 AFRICA 185 obtained in the group of HF patients are especially surprising, where 37% of HF patients, when asked whether they thought they could play sport, responded negatively or indecisively. This result is a clear indicator of insufficient awareness of the role physical activity plays for HF patients, which is a further testament to inadequate education in this group of patients. Regarding choice of treatment method in the age groups assessed, we clearly saw a trend towards pharmacotherapy as typical for HF. These results are consistent with a 2006 study where as many as 90% of patients chose this treatment method.12 Physical activity or nutritional interventions were not perceived as primary treatment and prevention methods for HF in this population. In recent years, internet availability has enabled better access to information. In our study, 80% of young people indicated the internet as their primary source of information on HF and healthy lifestyle (this source was the most frequently indicated one, regardless of age group). A similar trend was shown in a German study, which collected data concerning HF awareness between 2007 and 2015. Here too, 51% of young respondents indicated the internet to be their prime source of information.19 The older the respondents, the more willingly they learn from sources other than the internet. In the middle-aged group of respondents, a frequently chosen option was a consultation with a specialist. Elderly respondents, on the other hand, relied on the internet only in 63% of the cases, and television/radio in 44% of cases. In comparison with the German study, where the majority of elderly respondents indicated newspapers (69%) or information obtained in the doctor’s office (69%), the internet accounted for only 31%.19 These discrepancies may be the result of a difference in the survey format. Our study was an internet-based survey, so the responders were obviously familiar with the internet, whereas in the German study it was a paper-based survey. An important conclusion drawn from our survey is the fact that almost 78% of respondents declared the need to gain more information on HF. This poses a great educational challenge for healthcare systems. Conclusions While the HFmorbidity rate is surging, the level of understanding of HF remains low. The general public sees the need for more information and global education seems crucial in bettering the HF situation. It also needs to be clarified that HF cannot be cured. People should be educated about symptoms of HF, even though the majority indicated correct signs and symptoms as most alarming. It is important to encourage positive lifestyle changes, such as a proper diet and physical activity to improve the prognosis, lower re-admission rates and reduce HF care costs. Finally, various sources of information proliferation, particularly the internet, is crucial for every age group. We thank all participants of our study for taking part and for distribution of our survey via the internet, especially Wojewódzki Szpital Zespolony w Lesznie. References 1. McDonagh TA, Metra M, Adamo M, et al. ESC Scientific Document group. 2021 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: developed by the Task Force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) With the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur Heart J 2021; 36: 3599–3726. 2. Savarese G, Lund LH. Global public health burden of heart failure. Card Fail Rev 2017; 3(1): 7–11 3. McKee PA, Castelli WP, McNamara PM, Kannel WB. The natural history of congestive heart failure: the Framingham study. N Engl J Med 1971; 285(26): 1441–1446. 4. Mosterd A, Hoes AW. Clinical epidemiology of heart failure. Heart 2007; 93(9): 1137–1146. 5. Levy D, Kenchaiah S, Larson MG, et al. Long-term trends in the incidence of and survival with heart failure. N Engl J Med 2002; 347: 1397–1402. 6. Cowie MR, Mosterd A, Wood DA, et al. The epidemiology of heart failure. Eur Heart J 1997; 18(2): 208–225. 7. Cowie MR, Wood DA, Coats AJ, et al. Incidence and aetiology of heart failure; a population-based study. Eur Heart J 1999; 20(6): 421–428. 8. McMurray JJ, Stewart S. The burden of heart failure. Heart J Suppl 2002; 4(Suppl D): D50–D58. 9. McMurray JJ, Stewart S. Epidemiology, aetiology, and prognosis of heart failure. Heart 2000; 83(5): 596–602. 10. Remme WJ, McMurray JJ, Rauch B, et al. Public awareness of heart failure in Europe: first results from shape. Eur Heart J 2005; 26(22): 2413–2421. 11. Rogers AE, Addington-Hall JM, Abery AJ, et al. Knowledge and communication difficulties for patients with chronic heart failure: qualitative study. Br Med J 2000; 321(7261): 605–607. 12. Van der Wal MH, Jaarsma T, Moser DK, Veeger NJ, van Gilst WH, van Veldhuisen DJ. Compliance in heart failure patients: the importance of knowledge and beliefs. Eur Heart J 2006; 27(4): 434–440. 13. Rogers A, Addington-Hall JM, McCoy AS, et al. A qualitative study of chronic heart failure patients’ understanding of their symptoms and drug therapy. Eur J Heart Fail 2002; 4(3): 283–287. 14. Nowak K, Stępień K, Furczyńska P, et al. The awareness and knowledge about heart failure in Poland – lessons from the Heart Failure Awareness Day and internet surveys. Folia Med Cracov 2019; 59(2): 93–109. 15. Lainscak M, Letonja M, Kovacic D, et al. General public awareness of heart failure: results of questionnaire survey during Heart Failure Awareness Day 2011. Arch Med Sci 2014; 10: 355–360. 16. Stewart S, MacIntyre K, Hole DJ, Capewell S, McMurray JJ. More ‘malignant’ than cancer? Five-year survival following a first admission for heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail 2001; 3(3): 315–322. 17. Płotka A, Prokop E, Migaj J, Straburzyńska-Migaj E, Grajek S. Patients’ knowledge of heart failure and their perception of the disease. Patient Pref Adherence 2017; 11: 1459–1467. 18. Störk S, Kavoliuniene A, Vinereanu D, et al. What does the lay public know about heart failure? Findings from the Heart Failure Awareness Day Initiative. J Heart Fail 2016; 18(1): 66–70. 19. Zelenak C, Radenovic S, Musial-Bright L, et al. Heart failure awareness survey in Germany: general knowledge on heart failure remains poor. ESC Heart Fail 2017; 4(3): 224-231.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDIzNzc=