PREVALENCE OF COMORBIDITY AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/health-2026.1.12Keywords:
socioeconomic status, cardiovascular risk, comorbidity, population awareness, gender differences, agerelated factors, urbanization, preventionAbstract
The results of the analysis of contemporary scientific studies indicate the presence of stable sociodemographic determinants of awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and the formation of comorbidity in urban populations. Socioeconomic status, particularly the level of education, is one of the key predictors of knowledge about cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. Individuals with higher educational attainment are significantly more likely to correctly identify arterial hypertension, smoking, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and low physical activity as major determinants of cardiovascular pathology. Low socioeconomic status is associated with limited access to medical information, preventive programs, and healthcare infrastructure, which contributes to unequal distribution of comorbid conditions. Gender differences significantly influence the level of awareness and the profile of cardiovascular risk. Women generally demonstrate higher awareness of behavioral risk factors, including obesity and dyslipidemia; however, they often underestimate their individual cardiovascular risk. Men, in contrast, more frequently exhibit low motivation for preventive behaviors and reduced self-awareness of risk, which may contribute to the accumulation of cardiometabolic comorbidity. Age is an important modifying factor affecting both knowledge and preventive behavior. Young and middle-aged adults typically demonstrate higher awareness of cardiovascular risk factors; however, this knowledge does not always translate into healthy behaviors. Older adults, despite having a higher clinical risk, often show lower levels of awareness, which may be related to cognitive changes, social isolation, and limited access to modern sources of medical information. Urbanization provides better access to healthcare services; however, intra-urban socioeconomic inequalities lead to significant variability in comorbidity prevalence among different population groups. The identified patterns justify the need for targeted, age- and gender-adapted educational and preventive programs aimed at reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases and associated comorbid conditions
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