Prevalence of Risk Factors and Awareness of University Students regarding Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Hypertension is a major global health issue, posing the highest risk for CVD-related deaths. WHO reports that hypertension prevalence increased from 650 million in 1990 to 1.4 billion in 2024. Once rare in younger people, its prevalence has risen due to rise in several risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension risk factors among university students and evaluate their awareness of hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 634 university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via a Google form questionnaire used to assess sociodemographic data, hypertension knowledge, and CVD risk awareness. Data were analyzed with SPSS using chi-square and regression analyses at a significance level of p < 0.05. In this study, the participants were predominantly females (65.5%), aged 20–22, and Saudi nationals (61.2%). The reported risk factors among participants included family history of hypertension (50.5%) and being overweight or obese (31.7%). Overall, most participants exhibited high awareness regarding hypertension (92.3%) and CVD risk factors (89.4%). The academic major had a significant association with awareness, with medical students being more likely to have higher awareness regarding hypertension (OR: 3.744, p = 0.002) and CVD risk factors (OR: 4.594, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the findings reveal that participants exhibited some risk factors of hypertension such as BMI and family history of hypertension. While awareness was strong, there is still a need for targeted educational initiatives in academic settings to improve knowledge about hypertension and its risk factors, particularly among non-medical students.