FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS

Abstract

The Aim. To assess the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and examine their associations with sociodemographic indicators.
Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January 29 to July 30, 2025. Data were collected using an anonymous online survey. The study included 1,060 adults (18 years and older) residing in Lithuania. The questionnaire was created on the Google Forms platform and distributed via social media. It consisted of 18 questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, health status, and medication use.
Results. The study results showed that higher CVD risk was statistically significantly associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.010) and stress (p < 0.001). Unhealthy diet demonstrated only a tendency toward increased risk (p = 0.057), while smoking, drug use, and low physical activity were not significantly related to CVD. Among sociodemographic factors, higher CVD risk was associated with age (p < 0.001), male sex (p < 0.001), and vocational education (p = 0.018). Stress was more likely to be experienced by younger individuals (p < 0.001), those with secondary education (p = 0.019), and people living in cities (p = 0.001) or towns (p = 0.017). The likelihood of alcohol consumption decreased with age (p < 0.001), but men were 2.1 times more likely to consume alcohol compared to women (p < 0.001).
Conclusions. The study showed that higher CVD risk was most strongly associated with alcohol consumption and stress, while among sociodemographic factors, older age, male sex, and vocational education had a significant impact. Stress was more frequently experienced by younger individuals, those with secondary education, and people living in cities or towns, whereas alcohol consumption was more prevalent among men and younger respondents.