Title: Multinomial logistic regression modelling of cardiologists' awareness of the impact of air pollution on cardiovascular disease in Vietnam and the Philippines

Authors: Q.T. Nguyen; R.N.G. Naguib; M. Papathomas; M.H. Shaker; A.B. Culaba; N. Wickramasinghe; T.N. Ton

Addresses: Biomedical Computing and Engineering Technologies (BIOCORE) Applied Research Group, Health Design Technology Institute and Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry, UK ' Biomedical Computing and Engineering Technologies (BIOCORE) Applied Research Group, Health Design Technology Institute and Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry, UK ' School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK ' Ecology and Environment Inc, Buffalo, USA ' Centre for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines ' Epworth Chair Health Information Management, School of Business Information Technology and Logistics, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia ' Environmental Health Unit, World Health Organization, Vietnam Office, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract: The Air Pollution (AP) situation in Vietnam and the Philippines has deteriorated in recent years. During this time period, mortality rates from Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) have remained in the top ten of all causes of deaths. The aim of this paper is to understand and model the awareness of cardiologists of the potential impact of AP on CVD in both nations. A full-scale survey covering 321 cardiologists was conducted in Vietnam (27 hospitals across the country) and the Philippines (members of the Philippine Heart Association with a subset from Davao Province). The paper reports on extensive results obtained through descriptive analysis and logistic regression modelling.

Keywords: particular matter; air pollution; CVD; cardiovascular disease; pathophysiological pathways; developing countries; modelling; cardiologist awareness; Vietnam; Philippines; pollution impact; mortality rates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2012.049324

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2012 Vol.10 No.1, pp.38 - 54

Published online: 12 Dec 2014 *

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