Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among People in Hail City, Saudi Arabia

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death globally, and representing 31% of all global deaths according to WHO. So, this study may be useful to detect the risk factors of CVDs and how to prevent them to help in reducing the rate of deaths due to these diseases.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of CVD risk factors in Hail region, Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods: The study was carried out through an observational cross-sectional study on 300 participants from Hail region including both genders (females 231 [77%] & males 69 [23%]) with age group range from 18 years-old and above. The study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire, and the data was analyzed using Software Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 23.

Results: The highest risk factor for CVDs was obesity, the total number of overweight, obese and extremely obese was 171 (57%) which was more pronounced with peoples at the age of 31-45 years old. Other risk factors that were found in our participants were hypertension (8.3%), diabetes mellitus(DM, 7.3%),family history of diseases (80.4%), consuming insufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables (62.7%), always drinking coffee (60.9%), physical inactivity (34.7%), consuming fast foods more than one time per week (32.4%) and smoking 10.3%.We can conclude that many risk factors for CVDs were prevalent among Hail population either non modifiable (family history of diseases) or modifiable (obesity, physical inactivity, fast foods, insufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables) showed a considerable percentage which needs awareness programs for Hail population.