In this case study, we highlight how APLUSA leveraged its analytical rigor and responsiveness to support a national public health initiative aimed at better understanding how cardio-neurovascular diseases (CVDs) and their risk factors are perceived and understood in France.

Background

Cardio-neurovascular diseases encompass a range of conditions affecting the heart, blood vessels, and cerebral circulation. With prevention recognized as a key public health priority, a national organization sought an evidence-based assessment of how these diseases and their associated risk factors are perceived and understood across France.

The study was part of a broader effort to raise public awareness and support health authorities, delivered under a particularly tight timeline linked to World Heart Day.

Objectives

The client needed clear answers to several strategic questions to help shape its prevention efforts:

• What is the current level of awareness and understanding of CVDs and their risk factors in France?
• What differences in perception and expectations exist between the general public and people living with these conditions?
• Which communication and awareness levers appear most effective to strengthen prevention?

The overarching goal was to provide a solid foundation of insights to support a national communication and public health strategy.

Methods

APLUSA designed a nationwide online survey combining a representative sample of the general population with an additional sample of CVDs patients, bringing the total to over 1,100 respondents.
The questionnaire explored four key areas:

• Awareness and understanding of CVDs and their risk factors,
• Spontaneous and prompted identification of risk factors,
• Perception of personal risk and prevention-related information needs,
• The role of genetic factors, prevention, and innovation in overall disease perception.

Fieldwork and analysis were completed within a very short timeframe, demonstrating the agility and fast execution of APLUSA’s teams.

Results

The study revealed four major trends:

• CVDs are still not widely recognized as a major public health issue, even among those affected.
• Awareness remains broad but imprecise: many have heard of these diseases, yet detailed understanding of the conditions and their risk factors remains limited.
• Genetic risk factors are still poorly understood, but they generate strong interest and a clear desire for better risk awareness.
• Prevention stands out as a central lever: respondents expressed a significant need for information, and family conversations were seen as a natural channel for raising awareness.

Overall, the study highlighted a clear gap between perceived familiarity and actual understanding, while also pointing to strong potential for more structured prevention efforts.

Discussion

The insights from this study went beyond descriptive findings. They enabled the client to shape both strategic and operational decisions around national awareness initiatives.
Based on the results, the client was able to:

• Refine prevention messaging by addressing key knowledge gaps.
• Better tailor communication priorities between the general public and patients, based on their specific expectations.
• Strengthen engagement levers around prevention, genetic risk, and the role of the family.

The observed disconnect between declared awareness and actual knowledge also underlines the importance of clear, structured education to support better understanding of risk and adoption of preventive behaviors.

Conclusion

Delivered within a timeline aligned with World Heart Day, this APLUSA study has become a key reference for understanding cardio-neurovascular perceptions in France.

It notably showed that:

• CVDs remain underestimated as a major health issue in public opinion.
• Knowledge of risk factors is still incomplete, but interest in understanding them is strong.
• Early prevention and family-based awareness are emerging as top priority levers.

As the client shared:

“It is a great project leading to meaningful action for World Heart Day, and the study will continue to be used throughout our 2026 initiatives.”

By turning fragmented perceptions into actionable insights, APLUSA helped the client ground its prevention strategy in a robust and lasting evidence base.

The APLUSA Advantage

APLUSA supports public health stakeholders and prevention-focused organizations by providing:

• Rapid execution even under demanding time constraints,
• Recognized expertise in health perception and behavior research,
• Analytical approaches that transform data into directly actionable guidance.

When public understanding shapes the effectiveness of prevention policies, APLUSA helps turn complexity into clarity and insight into action.