Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors and its Knowledge among Perimenopausal Women: A Questionnairebased Cross-sectional Study from Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

Introduction: Assessing knowledge of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and identifying its risk factors is crucial because Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in women, particularly as they age. During perimenopause, declining oestrogen, changes in cholesterol, weight gain and insulin resistance increase the risk of CAD. Raising awareness and identifying risks early enables healthcare providers to promote heart-healthy behaviours, reduce modifiable risks and improve long-term outcomes. Aim: To assess the knowledge of CAD risk factors and identify the specific risk factors among perimenopausal women. Material and Methods: The study used a cross-sectional research design targeting non healthcare worker women aged 45 to 55 years. Ninety-two women in the perimenopausal period were selected through purposive sampling. The study was conducted at a private medical college hospital in Karnataka, India from January 2023 to July 2024. Knowledge regarding CAD prevention was assessed using a structured knowledge questionnaire. The risk factors for CAD were evaluated using various parameters: biophysical, biochemical and lifestyle. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Data processing and statistical analysis were conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 27.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 47.60±2.45 years. Of the participants, 46 (50%) had completed secondary schooling prerequisites and all had their monthly household income was less than Rs. 25,000. Few women reported having diabetes (12, 13%), hypertension (8, 8.7%), or high cholesterol (3, 3.3%). Nearly all of them (91, 98.9%) reported having less than eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Most women (90, 97.82%) had inadequate knowledge of preventing CAD risk factors. The CAD risk factors included low High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) (28, 30.43%) and borderline high triglyceride (23, 25%), elevated blood pressure (16, 17.4%), overweight (57, 62%), with larger Waist Circumference (WC) (68, 73.91%) and WaistHip Ratios (WHR) (51, 55.43%). Lifestyle risk factors present in perimenopausal women included low Physical Activity (PA) (41, 44.6%), moderate stress (91, 98.9%) and unhealthy dietary practices (33, 35.87%). Conclusion: The study found that there was low knowledge among perimenopausal women regarding CAD risk factors. Overweight, stress, physical inactivity, elevated WHR, low HDL and high LDL were prevalent. These findings emphasise the need for targeted interventions to reduce CAD risk.