Assessment of Risk Factors Associated With Coronary Artery Disease in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, its prevalence is increasing due to modifiable risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Raising public awareness of these factors is essential for effective prevention. This study aims to assess public knowledge and awareness of CAD risk factors and to examine their associations with demographic characteristics among adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 21 and February 5, 2025, involving 901 participants aged 18 and older. A validated, structured questionnaire was distributed online to assess demographic characteristics and knowledge of CAD risk factors. Data were analyzed using RStudio (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria), with chi-square tests used to examine associations between demographic factors and CAD knowledge.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 59.3% (n=534) were female, and 50.4% (n=454) were between 18 and 29 years of age. Overall, based on the scoring system, 88.1% (n=794) of participants demonstrated good awareness of CAD risk factors with a mean of 0.881 and SD (0.32), with smoking (n=697, 77.4%), physical inactivity (n=779, 86.5%), and obesity (n=855, 94.9%) being the most recognized. Higher awareness levels were significantly associated with female gender and postgraduate education (p < 0.05). However, gaps in knowledge persisted regarding diabetes and family history.

CONCLUSION

Although awareness of CAD risk factors is generally high, targeted educational initiatives are required to address misconceptions, particularly about non-modifiable risk factors. Strengthening public education efforts could help further reduce CAD prevalence in Saudi Arabia.