Level of knowledge and awareness of cerebrovascular stroke risk factors among individuals in Saudi Arabia

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Understanding risk factors is crucial for prevention and early intervention. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of cerebrovascular stroke risk factors among residents of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to July 2023 among 2956 participants from various socioeconomic backgrounds in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through surveys distributed via social media and during hospital visits. The study found that the awareness level of stroke risk factors among participants was alarmingly low. All of participants scoring less than 50% on the knowledge assessment. Hypertension was the most commonly recognized risk factor (41.4%), followed by diabetes mellitus (22.8%) and dyslipidemia (14.6%). Internet was reported by 52% of the participants as a source of information. Factors significantly associated with higher knowledge scores included having a family history of stroke or heart attack, increasing age, and educational level. Population awareness of stroke related risk factors is critically low. Internet and social media were most frequently named as source of information about stroke risk factors. This highlights a critical need for online along with physical targeted educational programs to improve awareness of stroke risk factors in Saudi Arabia.