Awareness and Misconceptions About Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Related Behaviors Among Medical Students and Interns in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, making awareness of its risk factors and the adoption of healthy behaviors critical, especially among future healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess awareness of CVD risk factors, misconceptions, and health-related behaviors, in addition to the relationship between academic year and CVD awareness among medical students and interns at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah City. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 381 medical students and interns. Participants answered questions about CVD risk factors, health behaviors, and the sources of information. A linear regression analysis was performed to explore the association between academic year and CVD awareness. Results: The majority of participants (67.5%) correctly identified CVD as the leading cause of death, with high awareness of the importance of exercise (93.7%) and diet (81.6%) in preventing heart disease. However, misconceptions about the hereditary nature of CVD (32.3% believed it was hereditary) and its prevalence in the elderly (73.8% held this belief) were noted. A significant positive association was found between academic year and CVD awareness (B = 0.425, p < 0.001), suggesting that awareness increases with students’ academic progress. Conclusion: While medical students demonstrate significant awareness of CVD risk factors, a gap persists between knowledge and behavior. In addition, there are some misconceptions regarding CVD. The study highlights the need for enhanced educational strategies to address these gaps and promote healthier behaviors, to prepare students to avoid CVD in their future careers.