Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of awareness of myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms and risk factors among adult patients in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design, recruiting 1,039 participants using a convenience sampling method. Questionnaires were distributed via Google Forms through applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Results: Most of the participants (85.9%) correctly identified chest pain as a symptom of MI, and awareness of other critical symptoms such as nausea (33.6%) and jaw, neck, or back pain (30.0%) was notably lower. Lifestyle-related risk factors, such as physical inactivity (36.3%), frequent fast food (61.1%), and soft drink consumption (52.3%), were prevalent. Awareness was significantly influenced by gender, age, income, and education (p-value < 0.05), with females, individuals aged 45-54 years, higher earners, and those with university education demonstrating better knowledge. However, nationality, employment, and smoking status had no significant association with awareness.
Conclusion: Despite significant awareness of MI symptoms and risk factors, notable gaps remain in recognizing less well-known symptoms. Unhealthy lifestyle habits and sedentary behavior, combined with significant hereditary components, emerged as critical factors in this population. This revealed a pressing need for targeted health education and preventive strategies.
Key words: Myocardial infarction, awareness, symptoms, risk factors, Saudi Arabia
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