Probability of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among family members of stroke survivors in Kelantan

• Main Author: Rosidi, Mohd Izrul Isham
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2025
• Subjects: R Medicine; RC666-701 Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/63608/

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including stroke, is still becoming a global burden across the population, and a positive family history does significantly increase the risk. CVD risk calculators such as Framingham Risk Score (FRS) help quantify these risks, highlighting the impact of factors like BMI, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure. Concurrently, family-centered approaches to cardiovascular health are gaining attention, particularly in stroke prevention among family members. Despite that, there is still a lack of studies related to the field in Kelantan and Malaysia. Objectives: This study aimed to explore publication trends, and themes related to CVD risk among family members of stroke survivors. Additionally, it sought to assess the distribution of the CVD risk using the Framingham Risk Score and to analyse the relationship between CVD risk factors from WHO STEPS questionnaires and CVD risk scores in local population in Kelantan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 307 family members of stroke survivors in Kelantan over one year (June 2023 - June 2024). The research began with a bibliometric analysis of existing literature on CVD risk among the population. The Framingham CVD Risk Score was calculated based on age, gender, diabetes status, hypertension treatment, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI). An ordinal logistic regression was employed to evaluate the relationship between CVD risk factors from WHO STEPS questionnaire and CVD risk scores, followed by assessment for proportional odds assumptions. Results: The bibliometric analysis revealed a consistent increase in publications on CVD risk among family members of stroke patients since 1978, with an annual growth rate of 7.67%. The USA was identified as the leading contributor, with the journal "Stroke" being the most prolific. Study among the participants in Kelantan reported the median age of 47 years, with 60.0% being spouses to the stroke patients. The CVD risk distribution showed 57.1% classified as low risk, 25.7% as moderate risk, and 17.2% as high risk. Ordinal logistic regression showed that spouse and male gender were associated with 4.04 and 4.32 higher odds to be in higher CVD risk categories respectively. Conclusion: The findings highlighted the growing scholarly interest in CVD risk among family members of stroke patients, emphasizing the importance of familial risk factors in developing targeted prevention strategies. The local study in Kelantan underscored the influence of various factors on the Framingham CVD Risk Score. Understanding these relationships was crucial for effectively preventing and managing cardiovascular health.