Summary: | Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and contributes to large numbers of hospitalizations. Non-communicable diseases are Malaysia’s leading cause of death, mainly due to cardiovascular disease, and the most significant contributor in terms of disability among Malaysians. Adherence to recommended healthy lifestyles is a secondary prevention strategy to reduce the risk of reinfarction and readmission among patients with CAD. Studies have shown that sociodemographic characteristics and clinical variables are associated with adherence to lifestyle modification. The study’s objective is to assess the adherence level and association between sociodemographic data and adherence level to lifestyle modification among patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease using a self-administered questionnaire in one of the government cardiac centres. Results: The study found that the adherence level to lifestyle modification was low 2.09 (±0.19). The adherence to recommended healthy lifestyle modifications was found to be significantly associated with race, F(3,109)=17.14, p<0.05. This study also indicated an association between adherence level to recommended lifestyle modification and the level of education F(2,110)=8.71, F(2,110)=8.71, p<0.05 and monthly income F(2,110)=13.15, p<0.05. There was a small but significant negative correlation between BMI and healthy diet intake, r(113)=-0.207, p<0.05. Conclusion: It was recommended that sociodemographic characteristics and clinical variables be crucial for nurses to understand and appreciate their patients’ adherence to lifestyle modification behaviors. This will help nurses be more aware and sensitive to sociodemographic characteristics when planning their patients pre-discharge education and successful treatment. © The Author(s) 2023.
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