Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of death and disability in many diabetic patients. The present study aimed at evaluating awareness and understanding of CVD risks among Type 2 diabetic patients in healthcare centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 701 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Data collected included age, nationality, gender, marital status, education, smoking status, co-morbidities, occupation, and income of participants. The heart disease facts questionnaire (HDFQ) was used to assess patients’ understanding of the risks of heart diseases.
Results: Among the participants, 52.6% were female, 23.8% were aged 18-29 years, and 91.2% were Saudi nationals. Additionally, 53.5% had a bachelor’s degree. The mean knowledge score on the HDFQ was 16.99 ± 4.66, with the highest mean score for smoking as a risk factor. Male patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) had a higher mean score indicating a greater understanding of heart and vascular disease risks compared to female patients. Overall, 57.1% of the participants had adequate knowledge. Adequate knowledge was significantly higher among older participants, Saudi nationals, married participants, and those with a bachelor’s degree. A significant positive correlation was found between age and HDFQ scores.
Conclusion: Despite more than half of the participants having adequate knowledge of the disease’s risk factors, there is a need to raise awareness among Saudi Arabian patients with DM regarding all the risk factors for CVD.
Key words: Awareness, cardiovascular disease , diabetes mellitus, HDFQ
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