Abstract
Introduction: Recognition of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) symptoms affects the time-sensitive benefits of reperfusion therapy in case of acute myocardial infarction.
Aim: To evaluate awareness of CAD symptoms and risk factors in population of Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital and community-based descriptive study was conducted from May to October 2018. Total of 3235 Saudi citizens, comprising of 3085 healthy participants (without documented CAD) and 150 patients (with documented CAD) participated in the study. A pre-piloted well-structured questionnaire was used. The questionnaire included questions about participants' demographic characteristics, CAD risk factors and symptoms. Data were analysed by using SPSS. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage, Student's t-test, chi-square test) was applied.
Results: Participants' baseline data revealed 54.4% of healthy participants and 13.3% of patients had an education at a university or higher level (p<0.001). Out of overall score 22 points, mean +/- SD for CAD knowledge was 12.62 +/- 5.1 and 13.59 +/- 4.8 (p=0.015) for healthy participants and patients, respectively. For all study participants, total score for knowledge of CAD risk factors was 6.73 +/- 2.4 (out of 10), while total score for knowledge of CAD symptoms was 5.07 +/- 3.1 (out of 10). One remarkable finding was that only 37.8% of healthy participants and 16% of patients knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Conclusion: This research revealed that general population in Al-Qassim Region showed a serious lack of knowledge about CAD symptoms when compared to CAD patients. Authorities should implement great efforts to improve public perception about CAD and its symptoms. This could support in diminishing the morbidity and mortality of the disease.