Background: A heart attack, medically referred to as myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a section of the heart is significantly reduced or completely blocked. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including MI, are the primary cause of death worldwide, often driven by factors such as unhealthy lifestyles and obesity. Educating patients is essential for improving self-management and encouraging lifestyle changes to lower the risk of future heart attacks. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of modifiable risk factors in young adults (30–45 years) with MI at a tertiary care rural teaching hospital in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, as no prior study was reported in the PESIMSR region. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected over eight weeks (04.09.2023 to 29.10.2023) from 150 young adults diagnosed with MI meeting the inclusion criteria, using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. A validated structured interview questionnaire was utilized to evaluate participants’ knowledge of modifiable risk factors. Results: The study revealed that most participants, 80 (53.33%), had an adequate level of knowledge regarding modifiable risk factors of MI, while 51 (34%) had a moderate level, and 19 (12.67%) had an inadequate level of knowledge. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge levels and factors such as religion, education, occupation, place of residence, and information sources (p < 0.05). Conclusion: While most young adults with MI in this study demonstrated adequate knowledge of modifiable risk factors, a notable proportion still had moderate or inadequate knowledge, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted health education interventions.

Keywords: Myocardial infarction, modifiable risk factors, young adults, knowledge assessment, health education

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1. Ojha N, Dhamoon AS. Myocardial infarction. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan– [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537076/.
2. Smeltzer SC, Bare BG, Brunner JL, Sudarth. Brunner and Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing. 11th ed. St. Louis: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. p. 1375–1410.
3. World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Available from:

       https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds).

4. World Health Organization. WHO reveals leading causes of death and disability worldwide: 2000–2019. 2020 Dec 9. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/09-12-2020-who-reveals-leading-causes-of-death-and-disability-worldwide-2000-2019.
5. Huffman MD, Prabhakaran D, Osmond C, Fall CH, Tandon N, Lakshmy R, et al. Incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in an Indian urban cohort: results from the New Delhi birth cohort. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57(17):1765–74. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2010.09.083. PMID: 21511113; PMCID: PMC3408699.
6. Zhang Y. Cardiovascular diseases in American women. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010;20(6):386–93. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2010.02.001. PMID: 20554179; PMCID: PMC4039306.
7. Hu D, Yu D. Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in Asian women. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010;20(6):394–404. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2010.02.016. PMID: 20591635.
8. Bogle BM, Ning H, Mehrotra S, Goldberger JJ, Lloyd-Jones DM. Lifetime risk for sudden cardiac death in the community. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5(7):e002398. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002398. PMID: 27356557; PMCID: PMC5015355.
9. Sharifi-Rad J, Rodrigues CF, Sharopov F, Docea AO, Daglia M, Valdés-Moreno MI, et al. Diet, lifestyle and cardiovascular diseases: Linking pathophysiology to cardioprotective effects of natural bioactive compounds. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(7):2326. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17072326.
10. Mechanic OJ, Gavin M, Grossman SA. Acute myocardial infarction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan– [Updated 2023 Sep 3]. Available from:

       https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459269/.

11. Wahyuningsih I, Mega Ika D, Tri Rahayu, et al. Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in young adults: Literature review. KnE Medicine. 2023;3(2):106–11. doi: 10.18502/kme.v3i2.130426.
12. Vennapusa R, et al. Awareness on risk factors and warning signs of myocardial infarction among patients attending OPDs at tertiary care centre, Tirupati. IJCRT. 2023;11(2):a171–a179.
13. Ibrahim MI, et al. Risk factors assessment of adults suffering from myocardial infarction. Egypt J Health Care. 2023;14(1). Available from:

       https://ejhc.journals.ekb.eg/article_287211_85492f9748bbb63cbbe2b4b5c62137d7.pdf.

14. Adhikary D, Barman S, Ranjan R, Bhattarai P, Pokhrel RN, Yadav DP. A systematic review of major cardiovascular risk factors: A growing global health concern. Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30119. doi: 10.7759/cureus.301197.
15. Mechanic OJ, Gavin M, Grossman SA, Ziegler K. Acute myocardial infarction (nursing). In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan– [Updated 2023 Sep 3]. PMID: 33760518.
16. Phomdontre T, Damkliang J. Risk factors of acute myocardial infarction in young adults: An integrative literature review. J Res Nurs-Midwifery Health Sci. 2021;41(3):99–108. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/nur-psu/article/view/2512297.
17. Sinha SK, Krishna V, Thakur R, Kumar A, Mishra V, Jha MJ, et al. Acute myocardial infarction in very young adults: A clinical presentation, risk factors, hospital outcome index, and their angiographic characteristics in North India–AMIYA Study. ARYA Atheroscler. 2017;13(2):79–87. PMID: 29026414; PMCID: PMC5628855.

Background: A heart attack, medically referred to as myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a section of the heart is significantly reduced or completely blocked. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including MI, are the primary cause of death worldwide, often driven by factors such as unhealthy lifestyles and obesity. Educating patients is essential for improving self-management and encouraging lifestyle changes to lower the risk of future heart attacks. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of modifiable risk factors in young adults (30–45 years) with MI at a tertiary care rural teaching hospital in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, as no prior study was reported in the PESIMSR region. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected over eight weeks (04.09.2023 to 29.10.2023) from 150 young adults diagnosed with MI meeting the inclusion criteria, using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. A validated structured interview questionnaire was utilized to evaluate participants’ knowledge of modifiable risk factors. Results: The study revealed that most participants, 80 (53.33%), had an adequate level of knowledge regarding modifiable risk factors of MI, while 51 (34%) had a moderate level, and 19 (12.67%) had an inadequate level of knowledge. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge levels and factors such as religion, education, occupation, place of residence, and information sources (p < 0.05). Conclusion: While most young adults with MI in this study demonstrated adequate knowledge of modifiable risk factors, a notable proportion still had moderate or inadequate knowledge, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted health education interventions.

Keywords: Myocardial infarction, modifiable risk factors, young adults, knowledge assessment, health education

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Ojha N, Dhamoon AS. Myocardial infarction. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan– [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537076/.
2. Smeltzer SC, Bare BG, Brunner JL, Sudarth. Brunner and Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing. 11th ed. St. Louis: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. p. 1375–1410.
3. World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Available from:

       https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds).

4. World Health Organization. WHO reveals leading causes of death and disability worldwide: 2000–2019. 2020 Dec 9. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/09-12-2020-who-reveals-leading-causes-of-death-and-disability-worldwide-2000-2019.
5. Huffman MD, Prabhakaran D, Osmond C, Fall CH, Tandon N, Lakshmy R, et al. Incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in an Indian urban cohort: results from the New Delhi birth cohort. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57(17):1765–74. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2010.09.083. PMID: 21511113; PMCID: PMC3408699.
6. Zhang Y. Cardiovascular diseases in American women. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010;20(6):386–93. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2010.02.001. PMID: 20554179; PMCID: PMC4039306.
7. Hu D, Yu D. Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in Asian women. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010;20(6):394–404. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2010.02.016. PMID: 20591635.
8. Bogle BM, Ning H, Mehrotra S, Goldberger JJ, Lloyd-Jones DM. Lifetime risk for sudden cardiac death in the community. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5(7):e002398. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002398. PMID: 27356557; PMCID: PMC5015355.
9. Sharifi-Rad J, Rodrigues CF, Sharopov F, Docea AO, Daglia M, Valdés-Moreno MI, et al. Diet, lifestyle and cardiovascular diseases: Linking pathophysiology to cardioprotective effects of natural bioactive compounds. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(7):2326. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17072326.
10. Mechanic OJ, Gavin M, Grossman SA. Acute myocardial infarction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan– [Updated 2023 Sep 3]. Available from:

       https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459269/.

11. Wahyuningsih I, Mega Ika D, Tri Rahayu, et al. Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in young adults: Literature review. KnE Medicine. 2023;3(2):106–11. doi: 10.18502/kme.v3i2.130426.
12. Vennapusa R, et al. Awareness on risk factors and warning signs of myocardial infarction among patients attending OPDs at tertiary care centre, Tirupati. IJCRT. 2023;11(2):a171–a179.
13. Ibrahim MI, et al. Risk factors assessment of adults suffering from myocardial infarction. Egypt J Health Care. 2023;14(1). Available from:

       https://ejhc.journals.ekb.eg/article_287211_85492f9748bbb63cbbe2b4b5c62137d7.pdf.

14. Adhikary D, Barman S, Ranjan R, Bhattarai P, Pokhrel RN, Yadav DP. A systematic review of major cardiovascular risk factors: A growing global health concern. Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30119. doi: 10.7759/cureus.301197.
15. Mechanic OJ, Gavin M, Grossman SA, Ziegler K. Acute myocardial infarction (nursing). In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan– [Updated 2023 Sep 3]. PMID: 33760518.
16. Phomdontre T, Damkliang J. Risk factors of acute myocardial infarction in young adults: An integrative literature review. J Res Nurs-Midwifery Health Sci. 2021;41(3):99–108. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/nur-psu/article/view/2512297.
17. Sinha SK, Krishna V, Thakur R, Kumar A, Mishra V, Jha MJ, et al. Acute myocardial infarction in very young adults: A clinical presentation, risk factors, hospital outcome index, and their angiographic characteristics in North India–AMIYA Study. ARYA Atheroscler. 2017;13(2):79–87. PMID: 29026414; PMCID: PMC5628855.