title: Poor knowledge of peripheral arterial disease among the Saudi population: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: Peripheral arterial disease is a marker of severe atherosclerosis with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Public and patients' perception of peripheral arterial disease is influenced by their knowledge of the condition. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the Saudi public's knowledge of peripheral arterial disease and its specific characteristics. We conducted an interview-based cross-sectional survey, and collected data on basic demographics, self-reported peripheral arterial disease awareness, and knowledge of clinical features, risk factors, preventative measures, management strategies, and potential complications of peripheral arterial disease. A total of 866 participants completed the survey (response rate, 94%); two-thirds were females. Only 295 (34%) of the surveyed participants indicated awareness of peripheral arterial disease. Overall peripheral arterial disease knowledge was low among the "peripheral arterial disease aware" group, particularly in the clinical features domain. Age > 40 years, female gender, and higher education were predictors of self-reported awareness of peripheral arterial disease. In conclusion, the Saudi public is largely unaware of peripheral arterial disease. Educational programs are important to address this critical knowledge gap.
authors.affiliation: 1 Vascular Surgery Unit, Prince Salman Heart Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saad Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ayeed
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Mohamad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|3 Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Musaad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: AlHamzah
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|3 Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.|4 Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.|5 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.|6 King Saud University-Li Ka Shing Collaborative Research Program, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Omran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Peripheral arterial disease; Saudi Arabia; general population; knowledge