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Advances in Knowledge
* - This is the first study in Oman to highlight deficits in knowledge of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors among a community sample of Omani adults.
* - Several factors—including a high body mass index, low education levels and being married—were associated with low levels of CHD risk factor knowledge among the sample.
Application to Patient Care
* - The findings of this study contribute to existing knowledge regarding CHD in Oman and should be considered when planning and implementing targeted CHD health education and other preventative measures. Programmes to address the increasing burden of CHD in Oman should take into account the low levels of knowledge of CHD risk factors observed among the Omani community.
* - The results of this study highlight certain psycho-cognitive factors that require further exploration by healthcare services and researchers to enhance CHD risk factor knowledge and preventative lifestyle behaviours in Oman.
Coronary heart disease (chd) is an increasing worldwide health burden. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 7.4 million deaths due to ischaemic heart disease in 2012, with high-income countries and upper-middle-income countries accounting for 158 and 107 deaths per million, respectively.1,2 While the prevalence of CHD has stabilised in developed countries, the condition has recently begun to impact developing countries due to increasing life expectancy, urbanisation and lifestyle changes; certain Middle Eastern countries (e.g. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) are examples of areas experiencing this epidemiological transition.3 Modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and smoking are considered to be the main precursors of CHD.4
The increasing trend of CHD and its related risk factors has highlighted the need to strengthen national surveillance schemes and efforts to reduce CHD-related morbidity and mortality. Many countries have implemented a primary prevention approach; however, a key aspect affecting the success of this method is the knowledge of the individuals at risk regarding a specific health problem.5 Greater knowledge of CHD risk factors helps individuals to correctly assess their personal risk, motivates them to increase prevention-seeking behaviours and has been associated with increased action to lower risks.6–8 Estimating knowledge of traditional CHD risk factors among a population...