dawnmedDawnMed Journal of Medical ScienceISVolume 2, Issue 3MultidisciplinaryEnglish2026NNY2026084CardiologyGenetic Risk Awareness and Knowledge of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional StudyEnglishY2733Abdullah HamdanAlanazi¹EnglishNJehad AhmadAlghamdi¹EnglishYAbdulrahman NafaeAlanzi¹EnglishYJihad AliAldowheer¹EnglishYAbdulaziz AlhasanAl-Thunyan¹EnglishYAbdulelah MohammedAlhoweil¹EnglishYHussam AbdulrahmanAlromaih¹EnglishYAbdulmalik AbdullahAlammar¹EnglishYSalahuddinKhan²EnglishY10.64039/djms.2026.2305Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality globally and represent a major public health burden in Saudi Arabia. Awareness of both modifiable and genetic cardiovascular risk factors plays a crucial role in prevention and early risk reduction. This study aimed to assess knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors and genetic risk awareness among adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed via Google Forms between November and December 2025 among adults aged ≥18 years residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, family history, knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors, and awareness of genetic susceptibility. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and associations were evaluated using the Pearson chi-square test (or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results:A total of 485 participants completed the study (49.5% aged 18–24 years, 56.3% female). Overall, 75.9% of respondents exhibited good knowledge (≥70%) regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. High awareness was observed for smoking (97.3%), obesity (92.6%), and hypertension (89.7%) as risk factors, whereas knowledge gaps were noted for the protective role of HDL cholesterol (62.9%) and excessive salt intake (62.7%). Most participants acknowledged genetic factors increased CVD risk (67.2%) and expressed interest in further genetic education (78.0%). Good knowledge was significantly higher among males compared to females (83.0% vs. 70.3%; p = 0.001) and among never smokers compared to current and former smokers (77.7% vs. 57.1% and 58.8%, respectively; p = 0.019). Knowledge levels did not differ significantly by age, education, occupation, income, physical activity, or family history of CVD (p > 0.05).Conclusion:The findings indicate that adults in Riyadh have good awareness of general cardiovascular disease risk factors, particularly lifestyle-related behaviors. However, important gaps remain in understanding metabolic risk factors, genetic susceptibility, and personal health risk assessment. The observed knowledge–action gap highlights the need for targeted public health interventions that emphasize individualized risk awareness, improved health literacy, and better integration of genetic and clinical risk communication within primary healthcare services.EnglishCardiovascular diseases, Risk factor awareness, Genetic risk perception, Health literacy, Preventive health behavior, Knowledge–action gaphttps://dawnmed.com.sa/abstract?id=24References1619Roth GA, Mensah GA, Johnson CO, et al. Global burden of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, 1990and;ndash;2019: update from the GBD 2019 study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76(25):2982and;ndash;3021. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.010.Tash AA, Al-Bawardy RF. Cardiovascular disease in Saudi Arabia: facts and the way forward. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2023;35(2):148and;ndash;162. doi:10.37616/2212-5043.1336.Al-Nozha MM, Al-Mazrou YY, Al-Maatouq MA, et al. Obesity in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2005;26(5):824and;ndash;829.Gaziano TA, Bitton A, Anand S, Abrahams-Gessel S, Murphy A. Growing epidemic of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2010;35(2):72and;ndash;115. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2009.10.002.Alaamri S, Naser AY. Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(9):e41597. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000041597.Ammouri AA, Neuberger G, Mrayyan MT, Hamaideh SH. Perception of risk of coronary heart disease among Jordanians. J Clin Nurs. 2011;20(1and;ndash;2):197and;ndash;203. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03192.x.Mujamammi AH, Alluhaymid YM, Alshibani MG, Alotaibi FY, Alzahrani KM, Alotaibi AB, Almasabi AA, Sabi EM. Awareness of cardiovascular disease associated risk factors among Saudis in Riyadh City. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(6):3100and;ndash;3105. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_458_20.Aaby A, Beauchamp A, Ryom K, Maindal HT. The association between health literacy and cardiovascular disease risk factors and outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:1501. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09623-1.Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, et al; INTERHEART Study Investigators. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. 2004;364(9438):937and;ndash;952. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17018-9.Bogari N, Dannoun A, Athar M, Elkhateeb O, Porqueddu M, Allam R, Alamanni F. Genetic association of rs10757278 on chromosome 9p21 and coronary artery disease in a Saudi population. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:1699and;ndash;1707. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S300463.Benjamin EJ, Muntner P, Alonso A, et al. Heart disease and stroke statisticsand;ndash;2019 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2019;139(10):e56and;ndash;e528. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000659.Homko CJ, Santamore WP, Zamora L, et al. Cardiovascular disease knowledge and risk perception among underserved individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2008;23(4):332and;ndash;337. doi:10.1097/01.JCN.0000317432.44586.aa.Nutbeam D, Lloyd JE. Understanding and responding to health literacy as a social determinant of health. Annu Rev Public Health. 2021;42(1):159and;ndash;173. doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102529.Lloyd-Jones DM, Hong Y, Labarthe D, et al; American Heart Association Strategic Planning Task Force and Statistics Committee. Defining and setting national goals for cardiovascular health promotion and disease reduction: the American Heart Associationand;#39;s Strategic Impact Goal through 2020 and beyond. Circulation. 2010;121(4):586and;ndash;613. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192703.Weinstein ND. Unrealistic optimism about susceptibility to health problems: conclusions from a community-wide sample. J Behav Med. 1987;10(5):481and;ndash;500. doi:10.1007/BF00846146.Khera AV, Kathiresan S. Genetics of coronary artery disease: discovery, biology and clinical translation. Nat Rev Genet. 2017;18:331and;ndash;344. doi:10.1038/nrg.2016.160.