Confronting perimenopausal women’s knowledge of coronary heart disease with their health behaviours. Controversial role of hormone replacement therapy in the protection of coronary heart disease

Introduction
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a condition resulting from a disproportion between the oxygen supply to the heart muscle and its actual demand for it. One of the risk factors for CHD is menopause. Women are more likely than men to experience non-specific symptoms of this disease, which contributes to inadequate diagnosis and delayed interventional treatment, resulting in a poorer prognosis. The aim of the research was to determine the level of women’s knowledge among perimenopausal women about CHD and to confront this knowledge with health behaviour undertaken by respondents.

Material and methods
The data were collected using a diagnostic survey method and research tools included an original questionnaire and standardized health behaviour inventory. The study was carried out on 262 respondents, by CAWI method.

Results
Most respondents demonstrated limited general knowledge about CHD, but showed good awareness of gender-specific differences and the role of hormones and hormone replacement therapy. Knowledge levels were not significantly associated with demographic factors. Health-promoting behaviours were generally moderate and not correlated with awareness of CHD risk factors.

Conclusions
There is a great necessity to educate women, especially in the menopausal period, about modifiable CHD risk factors and to undertake appropriate health behaviours.