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Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death in Poland. The prevalence of CVD risk factors is regionally differentiated. Awareness of their presence in the population is crucial for identification of high-risk patients and implementation of appropriate preventive intervention. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the prevalence and knowledge of modifiable CVD risk factors among patients of primary health care in Malopolska., Material and Methods: The study was conducted among participants of Małopolska CArdiovascular Preventive Intervention Study (M-CAPRI). Standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation was conducted in a total of 978 consecutive patients (aged 45.7±13.0) without known CVD in randomly selected primary care units in Małopolska., Results: The most common major modifiable CVD risk factor was hypercholesterolemia (648; 66.3%) while predisposing was incorrect nutrition (890; 91.0%). The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity was increased with age but cigarette smoking, low physical activity and poor nutrition remain unchanged. CVD risk assessed using Pol-SCORE charts was high or very high in 104 (16.9%) and moderate in 369 (59.5%) patients. Each of the modifiable CVD risk factors was often identified by people with higher education and educated beforehand by a doctor or nurse. The presence of a particular CVD risk factor was not associated with better knowledge of it except for diabetes (OR 3.44, 95% CI 0.996-11.863)., Conclusions: Educated patients have better knowledge on CVD risk factors. Identification of CVD risk factors and education about them should be implemented during visits in primary health care.

Background: The most important way to reduce the incidence of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is prevention, which should include modification of risk factors., Aim: To define knowledge of primary CVD prevention, and to rate compliance with prevention rules among students'., Material and Methods: The study included 275 first year (ly) students and 161 sixth year (6y) students of the Faculty of Medicine (303 Females and 133 Males; aged 18-29 years). Anonymous questionnaire on acquaintance with the primary prevention, compliance with it and correct values and units of blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol level was conducted among survey participants., Results: 6y students indicated risk factors of CVD significantly more correctly than ly students. The proper value of male and female waist circumference was indicated correctly more often by 6y students than ly students. When compared to ly students, 6y students more often marked properly the heart attack symptoms, tests which are necessary to diagnose ACS, and markers of the myocardial necrosis. Respectively, among the ly and 6y students the mean BMI was: 20.82 kg/m2 vs. 21, 74 kg/m2, mean waist circumference: 70.00 cm vs.74.81 cm. 6y students more often than ly students eat regular meals, eat fruits and vegetables more than 4 times a week, exercise more than 30 minutes a day., Conclusions: Sixth year medical students' knowledge about the prevention of CVD is greater than the first year students' but still is unsatisfactory. Sixth year students slightly often follow the rules of primary prevention than first year students.