Top

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

A national perspective on cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia

Authors: Bader A. Alqahtani, Aqeel M. Alenazi

Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are common chronic conditions that lead to morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, there are no recent national or regional reports about CVDs in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the national and regional prevalence rates of CVDs among the Saudi population.

Methods

This study used data from an ongoing household health survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics in 2017. The survey sample comprised 24,012 homes that were determined to be a representative sample of the population and dispersed throughout the 13 administrative areas. A self-reported diagnosis of CVD was collected by asking subjects if they had been diagnosed by a physician.

Results

The prevalence of CVDs among the Saudi population aged 15 years and older was 1.6% (n = 236,815). The prevalence is higher in males at 1.9% compared to females at 1.4%. Age is a significant factor, with a gradual increase in CVD prevalence until the age of 50, followed by a sharp rise. The prevalence among the age group (≥ 65 years) was the highest, recording 11% (n = 93,971), followed by the age group (60–64 years) which reached 6.5% (n = 31156.71), and the lowest prevalence was found in the age group (< 40 years) as 1.2% (n = 108,226). When considering regional differences, Makkah has the highest prevalence at 1.9% (n = 85,814), followed by Riyadh at 1.7% (n = 79,191). Conversely, Najran has the lowest prevalence at 0.76% (n = 332), with the Northern Border Region having the second lowest rate at 1,46% ( n = 4218) These findings underscore the importance of considering both demographic and regional factors in addressing and managing cardiovascular health in Saudi Arabia.

Conclusion

This study provides the most recent estimates of the national and regional prevalence rates of CVDs in Saudi Arabia. The findings suggest that CVDs are more common among older adults, males, and residents of the Makkah region. This information can be used to inform public health policies and interventions to reduce the burden of CVDs in Saudi Arabia.

Wang H, Dwyer-Lindgren L, Lofgren KT, et al. Age-specific and sex-specific mortality in 187 countries, 1970–2010: a systematic analysis for the global burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2071–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61719-X.CrossRefPubMed

Yusuf S, Joseph P, Rangarajan S, et al. Modifiable risk factors, cardiovascular disease and mortality in 155,722 individuals from 21 high-, middle-, and low-income countries HHS Public Access. Lancet. 2020;395:795–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32008-2.CrossRefPubMed

Roth GA, Abate D, Abate KH et al. Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the global burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet (London, England). 2018;392(10159):1736. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32203-7.

Stanaway JD, Afshin A, Gakidou E, et al. Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the global burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1923–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32225-6.CrossRef

Yusuf S, Joseph P, Rangarajan S, et al. Modifiable risk factors, cardiovascular disease and mortality in 155,722 individuals from 21 high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Lancet (London England). 2020;395(10226):795. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32008-2.CrossRefPubMed

Risk factors for ischaemic and intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke in 22 countries (the INTERSTROKE study) - Fitmum: Fitness for good health of mother and child. https://core.ku.dk/eng/research/fitmum/?pure=en%2Fpublications%2Frisk-factors-for-ischaemic-and-intracerebral-haemorrhagic-stroke-in-22-countries-the-interstroke-study(ff793a58-12ec-4125-8747-13d571df055f)%2Fexport.html. Accessed October 17, 2019.

Yusuf PS, Hawken S, Ôunpuu S, et al. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. 2004;364(9438):937–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17018-9.CrossRefPubMed

Geldsetzer P, Manne-Goehler J, Marcus ME, et al. The state of hypertension care in 44 low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of nationally representative individual-level data from 1·1 million adults. Lancet. 2019;394(10199):652–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30955-9.CrossRefPubMed

Mabry RM, Reeves MM, Eakin EG, Owen N. Evidence of physical activity participation among men and women in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council: a review. Obes Rev. 2010;11(6):457–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1467-789X.2009.00655.X.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Alqahtani BA, Alenazi AM, Alhowimel AS, Elnaggar RK. The descriptive pattern of physical activity in Saudi Arabia: analysis of national survey data. Int Health. 2020.

11.

Aljefree N, Ahmed F. Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Associated Risk factors among Adult Population in the Gulf Region: a systematic review. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/235101.

12.

Alqahtani BA, Alenazi AM, Hoover JC et al. Incidence of stroke among Saudi population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04520-4/Published.

13.

Alqahtani B, Elnaggar RK, Alshehri MM, Khunti K, Alenazi A. National and regional prevalence rates of diabetes in Saudi Arabia: analysis of national survey data. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries June. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13410-022-01092-1.CrossRef

14.

Yagoub Id U, Saiyed NS, Al Qahtani B, et al. Investigating the incidence and risk factors of hypertension: a multicentre retrospective cohort study in Tabuk. Saudi Arabia. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262259.CrossRef

15.

Alenazi AM, Alhowimel AS, Alotaibi MA et al. Prevalence and incidence of osteoarthritis among people living in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-021-05662-2/Published.

16.

Alqahtani BA, Alenazi AM, Alshehri MM, Osailan AM, Alsubaie SF, Alqahtani MA. Prevalence of frailty and associated factors among Saudi community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr. 2021;21(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12877-021-02142-9/TABLES/3.CrossRef

17.

Cardiovascular. Accessed October 17, diseases (CVDs). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds). 2019.

18.

Statistics. Published. GA for. No Title. https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/node/37421. 2019. Accessed January 28, 2019.

19.

Al-Nozha M, Arafah M, Al-Mazrou Y et al. Coronary artery disease in Saudi Arabia. undefined. 2004.

20.

Mofti AB. Incidence of deep vein thrombosis after major abdominal surgery as observed in Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 1990;10(6):602–4. https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.1990.602.CrossRef

21.

Aljefree N, Ahmed F. Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Associated Risk factors among Adult Population in the Gulf Region: a systematic review. Adv Public Heal. 2015;2015:1–23. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/235101.CrossRef

22.

Alqarni AM, Vennu V, Alshammari SA, Bindawas SM. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the arabic version of the physical activity scale for the elderly among community-dwelling older adults in Saudi Arabia. Clin Interv Aging. 2018;13. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S157007.

23.

Al-Sheikh SO, Aljabri BA, Al-Ansary LA, Al-Khayal LA, Al-Salman MM, Al-Omran MA. Prevalence of and risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in Saudi Arabia. A pilot cross-sectional study. Saudi Med J. 2007;28(3).

24.

Liu S, Li Y, Zeng X, et al. Burden of Cardiovascular diseases in China, 1990–2016: findings from the 2016 global burden of Disease Study. JAMA Cardiol. 2019;4(4):342–52. https://doi.org/10.1001/JAMACARDIO.2019.0295.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

25.

Heron M. National Vital Statistics Reports Volume 70, Number 9 July 26, 2021 Deaths: Leading Causes for 2019. 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/index.htm. Accessed October 18, 2019.

26.

Bhatnagar P, Wickramasinghe K, Wilkins E, Townsend N. Trends in the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in the UK. Heart. 2016;102(24):1945–52. https://doi.org/10.1136/HEARTJNL-2016-309573.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Roth GA, Johnson C, Abajobir A et al. Global, Regional, and National Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases for 10 Causes, 1990 to 2015. 2017;70(1):1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2017.04.052.

28.

Kotseva K, Wood D, De Bacquer D, De Backer G, Rydén LJC et al. Manuscript (include Title page, Abstract and references). Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2016:1–41.

29.

Alhabib KF, Batais MA, Almigbal TH, et al. Demographic, behavioral, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Saudi population: results from the prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study (PURE-Saudi). BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09298-w.CrossRef

30.

Interventions TE. Noncommunicable Diseases in Saudi Arabia: Toward Effective Interventions for Prevention.; 2021. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1717-5.

Title: A national perspective on cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bader A. Alqahtani
Aqeel M. Alenazi
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2261
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-024-03845-8

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Watch now

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

A national perspective on cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

Incentivised to exercise

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2024

Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts the clinical outcomes in patients with acute uncomplicated type-B aortic dissection undergoing optimal medical therapy

Association of red cell distribution width/albumin ratio and in hospital mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation base on medical information mart for intensive care IV database

Effects on physical activity, physical fitness and well-being in a 36-months randomized controlled study, comparing a multimodal hospital-based intervention programme for primary cardiovascular prevention with usual care

The usefulness of contrast echocardiography in the evaluation of cardiac masses: a multicenter study

Left ventricular strain changes at high altitude in rats: a cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking imaging study

Characteristics and outcome of patients with left atrial appendage closure in China: a single-center experience

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

Incentivised to exercise

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page