Level of Knowledge about Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Individuals at Risk of Developing Coronary Artery Disease

Cardiovascular disease risk factors are certain habits, behaviors, events, or conditions which increase a person's risk for developing cardiovascular disease, such as lack of exercise, unhealthy eating, smoking, diabetes, age, and family history. Study aims to assess level of knowledge about risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among individuals at risk of developing coronary artery disease.  This descriptive study was carried out with 86 employees in the University of Baghdad those individuals at risk of developing coronary artery disease and who are referred to university health center for the purpose of seeking treatment. This study was conducted between June and September 2024. Non - probability sampling (purpose sample) used in this study. The following instruments were used to collect data: demographic, clinical characteristics and The Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL). SPSS Version 22.0 was used; descriptive statistics, independent t test and ANOVA test is used to compare the means between two related groups. that overall CARRF-KL mean total score (M=19.267) that respondents’ knowledge level was moderate. And not significantly associated with sex, age, education level, medical history, family history of coronary artery disease, body mass index, smoking (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that, while individuals at risk of developing coronary artery disease have a moderate knowledge of the factors that contribute to cardiovascular events, there is still an obvious need for focused educational interventions to fill the identified knowledge gaps.