Key result
Saudi primary care settings screen only ~35% of patients for blood pressure alongside lower CV screening.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to estimate the proportion of individuals undergoing screening for cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, and to identify predictors of CVD, blood pressure, and cholesterol screening.
Cross-Sectional (n=14,239)
Yes
A very low proportion of Saudi residents undergo screening for blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, highlighting a critical need for targeted public health strategies to improve early detection of cardiovascular risk factors.
Low screening uptake signals gaps in preventive care; leaves open questions on barriers and effective interventions in primary settings.
Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate proportion of individuals undergoing screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors and to identify predictors of CVD, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol screening. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia and 14,239 participants were enrolled. The analysis was performed in SPSS version 26 and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% Cis were reported. Results: Blood pressure screening was reported by 35.3%, cholesterol screening by 9.3%, and cardiovascular screening by 3.7%. Significant positive predictors for blood pressure screening included older age (50-75 years: AOR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.20-1.50; ≥75 years: AOR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.84-2.43), being married (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04-1.27), non-smoking (AOR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.79-2.17), physical activity (AOR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.05-1.28), and diabetes (AOR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.88-2.44). For cholesterol screening, significant positive predictors were older age (≥75 years: AOR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.56-2.29), unemployment (AOR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.10-1.45), insurance coverage (AOR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.33-1.74), smoking (AOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.14-1.53), diabetes history (AOR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.09-1.61), and hypertension (AOR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.36-2.02). For cardiovascular screening, significant positive predictors included older age (≥75 years: AOR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.35-2.43), unemployment (AOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.88), insurance coverage (AOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.27-1.92), smoking (AOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.52-2.34), diabetes (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.41-2.43), and high cholesterol (AOR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.31-2.36). Conclusion: A very low proportion of Saudi residents have undergone blood pressure, cholesterol, and CVD screening. Common predictors of screening included older age, insurance coverage, diabetes, hypertension, physical activity, and high cholesterol levels. Low prevalence of screening is alarming, and Saudi Government needs to implement strategies that can help increase proportion of Saudi residents who receive blood pressure, cholesterol, and CVD screening.
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Alhawiti et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease risk factors (n=14,239). A very low proportion of Saudi residents in primary healthcare settings underwent screening for blood pressure (35.3%), cholesterol (9.3%), and cardiovascular disease (3.7%).
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