KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF SAUDI ADULT MALE ABOUT HYPERTENSION AND ITS RISK FACTORS, RIYADH, 2017

Osamah Khalid Alfentokh*, Abdulrahman Ahmed Alrehaili*, Abdualziz Mohammed Alhussain, Abdullah Abdulrahman Aldeailj, Faisal Suliman Alkahmus, Saad Methhil Alotaibi, Yasser Waled Asiri and Amar Fathi M. Khalifa

ABSTRACT

Background: Worldwide estimates for a number of cases of hypertension may be as much as 1 billion individuals. Approximately 7.1 million deaths per year may be attributable to hypertension. Hypertension (HTN) is an internationally common disease and an important treatable public health problem. Although there has been a significant progress in the management of hypertension in KSA, rates for control of this chronic disease has proved to be very low. High BP is a major risk factor for many serious diseases. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge of Saudi population about hypertension and its known risk factors and to assess different risk factors contribute to the development of hypertension. Methods: institutional based cross sectional study and the technique is simple sampling random technique, the sample size was 159. Inclusion criteria: Saudi male, Exclusion: Nationality other than Saudi, Female, male under age 18. Instrument: questionnaire: a series of close ended questions; analyzed by using the SPSS version 20. Chi square with P value less than 0.05 consider significance. Consent was obtained before data collection. Results: (34.59%) of participants had hereditary hypertension, stressful life is responsible for (16.98%) of cases. more than half of the participants were overweight (51.57%) and (8.18%) are obese. The majority of samples are cigarettes smokers (42.14%) the minority are EX- smokers (16.98%). The minority participants do not eat fast food (8.18%). There is a significant statistical relationship between age and hypertension. Hypertension gradually goes up with age (p value=0.001). There is a statistical relationship between hypertension and stress in general (p value=0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion both hypertensive and non-hypertensive have the same poor to moderate level of knowledge about hypertension, hence the public needs more awareness about hypertension. The commonest risk factors of hypertension is genetic factors followed by obesity. However, it seems the other risk factors like stressful life is underestimated.

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