The perception of palpitations and its risk factors among general population in the western region of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Palpitations can be defined as the accelerated or irregular pulse sensations of the heartbeat and can be of physiological or pathological origins. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of palpitations and their risk factors among the general population residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: This study has a cross-sectional, descriptive, community-based design. A total of 990 willing participants were enrolled. The necessary information was meticulously collected utilizing an electronic online questionnaire via Google Forms, which consists distinctly of four sections: Participant consent, specific demographics, accurate perception of palpitations and the associated risk factors. Results: Most of the participants, 763 (77.1%) were females. Regarding the level of awareness, 924 (93.3%) participants exhibited sufficient knowledge about the definition of palpitations. The vast majority were college-educated, 768 (77.6%). Out of all participants 909 (91.8%) believed there is an association between palpitations and caffeinated drinks. The association between the demographics and the perception of palpitations were found to be significant with Gender (P = 0.000), stress (P = 0.000) marital status (P = 0.026) and educational level (P = 0.021). Conclusion: The level of awareness about palpitation in the western region of Saudi Arabia is adequate and impacted by various factors like gender, stress, marital status and level of education. We advocate more education on diseases that may manifest as palpitations, raising awareness of risk factors like caffeinated drinks and stress, recommending healthier alternatives and conducting more research for possible hidden associations.