Essay Example: Prevalence and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in the U.S.

Introduction

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the state involving the constriction and blockage of blood vessels. Consequently, the narrowing of blood vessels is a contributor to angina/chest pains, heart attack, and even stroke. Its symptoms are aching and tightness of the chest, pressure and uneasiness on the chest, restricted breathing, paralysis in the legs or hands, and aching neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back. Hereinafter throughout the research paper Cardiovascular Disease assumes its CVD abbreviation. CVDs constitutes pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral Disease, congenital heart disease, and rheumatic heart disease. CVDs result from other illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, non-controlled hypercholesterolemia, and other unhealthy lifestyles.

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The mortality rate from CVDs continues to increase in the world, particularly in middle and low-income countries. This can be attributed to many individual risk factors like (tobacco use, lipids and hypertension), poor diet, less exercises regimes and alcohol intake. Other factors include health care systems, health policies that cause a barrier to CVD prevention. A reduction of CVD associated deaths globally is possible only if we agree to implement evidence-based strategies and interpret health systems. These will require valid and reliable data on CVD, the risk factors and barriers impeding prevention.

Study objectives

The study envisaged to investigate the status of Cardiovascular Disease prevalence and management in the U.S. Thusly; the study sought to explore the possible risk factors that might have contributed to the high incidence of CVD. Besides, the study will establish the status of medical facilities and management of Cardiovascular Disease based on the population perspectives

Specific objectives

1. To investigate the common risk factors that could have contributed to high VCD prevalence
2. To examine the status of health facilities in terms of accessibility, service provision and delivery as it regards the management of VCD
3. To assess the limiting factors that impede VCD management among the infected person

Study hypothesis

1. There are no risk factors that could have contributed to the high VCD prevalence
2. Health facilities are not efficient in providing and delivering services that would help to manage VCD
3. Some constraints negatively influence the management of VCD in the U.S.

Research question

How could the U.S. health facilities reduce the high VCD prevalence, and how could the relevant authorities’ accelerate efficiency in disease management?

Literature Review

Several scholars have discussed the issue of prevalence and prevention of CVDs in the world.

Joseph et al., in the journal, “Reducing the Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease, Part 1” comment on the increasing global number of deaths due to CVDs and reported a 12.5% increment since the past decade (Joseph et al., 2017). This sums up to one-third of the total deaths globally. They attribute this high number to population growth, and ageing populations, particularly in medium-low nations.

Roth et al., journal, “Global, regional, and national burden of cardiovascular disease for 10 cases, 1990 to 2015 (Roth et al., 2017)” states that CVD deaths are highly recorded in medium-low income nations. Studies estimate that stroke, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, rheumatic heart diseases and lastly atrial fibrillation are the key contributors to over 955 of CVD cases. The prevalence of stroke, for example, increases with age, with those between 74 and 79 years being more affected.

Bambra et al. in the journal, "Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health inequalities: evidence from Systematic review “comment on the risk factors of CVDs and outline them to be both behavioural and health influences. These include poor diet (fatty foods), smoking, and high intake of alcohol. (Bambra et al., 2020) “He also includes environmental pollution and health systems globally.

Ogden et al. in the journal "Factors for congestive heart failure in U.S. men and Women" contribute to this discussion by stating that 61% of North Americans suffer from hypertension, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes mellitus and valvular disease. He also compares data from African countries and reports that many heart failure diseases are caused by hypertension up to 45% of the total cases.

Lon et al., in the journal “Blood pressure lowering in intermediate-risk persons without cardiovascular diseases" contributes to this study and states that CVD is the most significant contributor to the world disease burden globally. He discusses the contributors to these diseases to be high blood pressure, smoking, high glucose levels and obesity.

Methodology

Study design

The study utilized a descriptive study design to ensure relevancy, credibility and reliability on the collected information, particularly that on personal data and phenomena. Besides, the study adopted an exploratory approach to capture new data and probe for answers while evaluating occurrences and situations that would inform the study objectives. Moreover, to strengthen the exploratory approach and produce reliable and credible findings, the study uses existing information on available literature and interviews only individuals who directly linked to the research goals.

Target population

The target population for the study was individuals over the age of 25 years, while the samples were persons who were ailing from VCD. Thirty selected VCD affected persons answered the questionnaires. The sample size selection followed the need to represent all study subjects accurately and as a result, inform the actualization of study objectives.

Data collection

The study used questionnaires as the primary tool for the data collection process due to its credibility and suitability when collecting practical information. Mugenda and Mugenda (1999) argued that questionnaires were efficient in the provision of intricate and valid answers to complex phenomena. The researchers conducted a pilot test of the questionnaires on five persons, which followed refining of the resulting issues. The author administered the refined questionnaires to the selected respondents to collect subjective personal information. It is noteworthy that the questionnaire had both closed and open-ended questionnaires and comprised of 3 sections. The researcher assured the respondents that the collected data would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Data analysis

The initial step of data analysis was recording the collected data. Subsequently, coding and editing of the data followed to ensure completion and consistency. The researcher used descriptive and inferential methods to analyse the survey data. The Likert Scale was useful for responses from questions that followed ordinal scales. The tools for data visualization used were tables. All the data analysis procedures were performed using the Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results

Socio-demographic information

The study showed that males were more prone to VCD (63.3 %) compared to females (36.7%). Further, the study demonstrated the age category of 65 years of age and above had the highest cases of VCD. The highest level of education in the population that reported the high prevalence of VCD was the bachelor's degree (36.7%). It is noteworthy that the majority of individuals (50%) earn an average monthly income of over $801 US dollars.

CVD symptoms and detection

Majority of the respondents were affected by CVD between the ages of 20 to 29 years 46.7%). The typical sign that triggered the respondents to visit a medical facility for VCD diagnosis was shortness of breath (36.7%). In terms of lifestyle habits that the respondents practised before diagnosis, alcohol intake was the common type (40%). Approximately 57% of the respondents reported that they had family members who were suffering from VCD.

Accessibility of medical facilities

Majority of the respondents sought services from a family doctor (43.3%). The majority of the respondents (36.7 %) were close to the health facilities at approximately less than a kilometre. The primary method of moving to the health facilities is the use of vehicles (46.7%) followed by the use of feet (33.3%).

Determination of differences among variables

The researcher used a multivariate analysis to determine any possible differences among variables that would influence VCD constraints and management. There were no statistically significant difference in the available sources of information on CVD management based on age and level of education of the respondents, F(10,46) = 0.672, p> .0005; Wilk's =0.761, partial n2 =0.128. Besides, age and level of education of the respondents had no significance difference on primary method of VCD management, F(8,48) = 1.599, p> .0005; Wilk’s =0.623, partial n2 =0.210. Similarly, no statistically significant difference was found in the challenges faced during VCD management based on age and level of education of the respondents, F (6, 50) = 2.811, p> .0005; Wilk’s =0.559, partial n2 =0.252.

There was no statistically significant difference in the reasons for concern on service provision in health facilities on gender and level of education of the respondents, F (6, 50) = 1.710, p> .0005; Wilk’s =0.689, partial n2 =0.170
. Gender and level of education of the respondents did not significantly influence the choice of the primary mode of transport to health facilities F (6, 50) = 0.274, p> .0005; Wilk’s =0.937, partial n2 =0.032.