Awareness of heart attack symptoms among Bahraini adults attending primary healthcare centers

Abstract EN

Background and objectives: Worldwide, mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a concern of great magnitude.

The mortality rate in Bahrain, due to CVD, was 19.5%, 32%, and 21.5% in the years 2005, 2011, and 2013, respectively.

The objective was to assess the awareness of Bahraini adults of the early warning symptoms of heart attack (HA) and the need to activate rapid emergency care by calling 999 once recognized.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study included 400 Bahraini adult patients attending primary healthcare centers in Bahrain.

Respondents were asked to identify the five warning symptoms of a HA and the first action to be performed while witnessing a HA.

HA knowledge score was calculated for each respondent.

The study was approved by Bahrain Public Health Research Committee.

Results: Based on the evaluation of the knowledge scores of HA symptoms, 71.9% and 28.1% of the participants scored poor and good level of knowledge.

In the study, the most recognized symptom of HA was chest pain (70.9%) followed by shortness of breath (60%).

In response to the first action to be performed while witnessing a HA, only 59.5% reported that they would contact the emergency services.

Conclusion: The level of public awareness about HA symptoms in Bahrain is poor.

Community campaigns are required to increase public health knowledge.