HP CHO -9 October 2022
Medical & Surgical Nursing
Easy

Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases?

Appeared in: HP CHO -9 October 2022

Explanation

  • Cigarette smoking is classified as a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease because it is a lifestyle behavior that an individual can choose to change or stop.
  • The act of smoking directly contributes to atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, and a prothrombotic state, all of which are central to the development of CVD.
  • Quitting smoking is a primary prevention strategy that has been proven to significantly decrease morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular events.
  • Unlike inherent traits, smoking is a habit that can be addressed through behavioral counseling, pharmacotherapy, and patient education, making it a key target for nursing interventions.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Age is a non-modifiable risk factor. The risk for cardiovascular disease increases with age, but a person cannot change how old they are.
  • Option B: Genetic factors refer to the inherited genetic makeup of an individual, which can predispose them to certain diseases. These are non-modifiable as they cannot be altered.
  • Option C: Family history is a well-established non-modifiable risk factor. Having a close relative with premature CVD increases one's own risk, but this historical fact cannot be changed.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Modifiable vs. Non-Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Nurses play a crucial role in patient education by focusing on modifiable risk factors to prevent chronic diseases like CVD. This is a cornerstone of primary prevention.
  • A key nursing responsibility is to assess for and address modifiable risks like smoking during every patient encounter, using evidence-based strategies like the 5 A's for cessation counseling.
  • What if? If a patient had a strong family history of CVD (a non-modifiable risk) but was a non-smoker, the nurse's focus would shift to aggressively managing other modifiable risks like diet, exercise, and blood pressure, as the baseline genetic risk is already high.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key term in the question: "modifiable risk factor". Understand that 'modifiable' means something that can be changed or controlled.
  • Evaluate each option based on this definition.
  • Consider 'Age'. Can a person change their age? No. It is non-modifiable.
  • Consider 'Genetic factor'. Can a person change their genes? No. It is non-modifiable.
  • Consider 'Family history'. Can a person change their family's medical history? No. It is non-modifiable.
  • Consider 'Cigarette smoking'. Is this a behavior that a person can change? Yes, a person can quit smoking. It is modifiable.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Modifiable vs. Non-Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
  • Stem keywords: modifiable risk factor, cardiovascular diseases
  • Lead-in keywords: Which of the following is

Question ID

Q0jW5fFZ97I0vOEc_6HWwV

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 pp. 96-98, 97-99

E6 PATHOLOGY QUICK REVIEWBased on Harsh Mohan Textbook of PATHOLOGY p. 185-187

Practise the full HP CHO -9 October 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.