Risk factors of coronary heart disease: attitude and behaviour in family practice in Saudi Arabia

To study risk factors of attitudes and behaviour towards coronary heart disease (CHD), 280 Saudis > or = 20 years attending a family practice answered a structured health and lifestyle questionnaire and had their weight, height, blood pressure and random total cholesterol measured. Significant difference was found between males and females in the mean number of cardiovascular risk factors (t = -3.03, P < 0.01). Few people with high dietary fat intake, obesity or physical inactivity perceived their behaviour as harmful. The number of people who perceived an associated risk to their health increased with incidence of smoking and obesity but not with high fat intake. Physically inactive people were least likely to perceive their behaviour as harmful.