Background: Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is a condition of the heart that occurs when blood flow to the heart muscles is stopped abruptly. The disruption in blood flow to the heart muscles is usually caused by a blockage of one or several coronary arteries. Heart attacks can be fatal owing to the critical functions performed by blood in the heart. Fatalities arising from heart attacks are witnessed all over the world. The difference in fatality rates of heart attacks is highly dependent on the exposure to risk factors such as smoking and obesity. Healthy living populations will rarely encounter high cases of a heart attack. This study was set out to assess and document the knowledge level of acute myocardial infarction patients regarding the modifiable risk factors of a heart attack in Saudi Arabia. Patients suffering from a heart attack are at great danger of fatality. Knowledge of modifiable factors can promote healthy living habits and behaviors among them. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was developed to assess knowledge levels of acute myocardial infarction patients in the three cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. A total of 123 participants were recruited through convenient sampling across 15 hospitals in the cities. The eligibility criteria for recruitment included a mandatory age of 18 years and Saudi Arabian citizenship. Participants were issued with questionnaires containing different questions on modifiable risk factors (fatty foods, vegetables, fruits, smoking, physical exercise, and obesity). Results: Five out of the six modifiable factors represented knowledge levels of less than 50%. Participants were only knowledgeable on the risk factor of obesity which saw 52.8% associating it with a heart attack. Conclusion: There is a need to boost education and awareness among acute myocardial infarction patients in Saudi Arabia.
IJPRAS
