Knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Warning Signs Among Adults in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Saudi Arabia, and public knowledge of risk factors and warning signs supports early detection and prevention. This study aimed to assess CVD knowledge and its demographic predictors among adults in the Jazan region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 adults (≥18 years) between February and April 2025. A questionnaire adapted from prior validated instruments assessed CVD awareness, knowledge of 11 risk factors and 10 warning signs, perceptions, and practices. Total knowledge scores (0–21) were dichotomized as adequate (≥8) versus inadequate (<8). Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for bivariate analysis, followed by binary logistic regression. Results: Most participants (89.5%) had heard of CVD, yet 53.7% had inadequate knowledge, and only 9.9% demonstrated good knowledge (≥15). The median total knowledge score was 7 (IQR 2–11) out of 21, with warning-sign knowledge (2.96/10) lower than risk-factor knowledge (3.95/11). Overweight/obesity (52.6%), hypertension (51.3%), and smoking (49.5%) were the most recognized risk factors; chest pain (47.6%) and shortness of breath (46.1%) were the most recognized warning signs. University education (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.23–4.85, p = 0.011) and family history of chronic disease (aOR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.32–3.85, p = 0.003) were the only independent predictors of adequate knowledge. Conclusions: More than half of the surveyed adults in the Jazan region had inadequate CVD knowledge despite high general awareness. These findings suggest that targeted education using digital platforms and primary care providers may help improve knowledge of risk factors and warning signs in the region.