Abstract

Aims This study aims to assess aspects of health knowledge: (i) awareness of health effect of tobacco smoking and (ii) awareness of preventive actions for heart disease and stroke, and their relationships with adoption of heart healthy behaviours (smoking cessation and utilization of anti-hypertensive treatment).Methods and results In this study, data from adults aged 35-70 years from 21 countries were included. Data on health effects of tobacco smoking (10 questions) and health actions to prevent heart disease or stroke (11 questions) were collected at baseline. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship with the outcomes of smoking cessation and use of anti-hypertensive treatment adjusting for adjusting for possible confounders. Of the 12 962 included in the descriptive analysis, 50.0% were female, 42.9% had no or primary education, and 53.3% were residing in low or lower middle-income country. Among current and former smokers, having knowledge of health effect of tobacco smoking on heart disease [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.70, 95% CI: 1.19,2.43], stroke (1.41, 1.08,1.86), and on heart disease in non-smokers exposed to others smoking (1.40, 1.06,1.86) was significantly and positively associated with smoking cessation compared to those who were not aware of health effects. Knowledge of the importance of reducing dietary salt aOR 1.62 (1.23,2.13), dietary fat aOR 1.56 (1.17,2.08), and exercising more aOR 1.48 (1.22,1.80) to prevent heart disease or stroke was positively associated with taking anti-hypertensive medication compared to those who were not aware of preventative actions.Conclusion This study reinforces that better health knowledge shapes adoption of heart healthy behaviours such as smoking cessation and taking anti-hypertensive treatment even after accounting for baseline education and wealth. Health knowledge is an important determinant of heart healthy behaviours across diverse educational or socio-economic backgrounds.Knowledge of health effect of smoking on heart disease, stroke, and on heart disease among second-hand smokers was associated with smoking cessation in PURE study.Knowledge of the importance of reducing dietary salt, dietary fat, and exercising more to prevent heart disease or stroke was associated with taking hypertensive medication in PURE study.