Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dyslipidaemia among Patients and Healthcare Professionals in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. Dyslipidaemia is a leading modifiable driver of cardiovascular mortality, yet evidence on how Pakistani patients and clinicians understand and manage it is limited. We assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in both groups and identified barriers that hinder optimal lipid care. Methods. We carried out a hospital-based, descriptive cross-sectional study at three tertiary-care centres in Islamabad and Rawalpindi between January and March 2026. A structured self-administered questionnaire was completed by 200 adults with diagnosed dyslipidaemia and 130 healthcare professionals (HCPs). KAP scores were derived from item responses and categorised as poor (< 50%), moderate (50–74%), or good (≥ 75%). Bivariate associations were examined with chi-square or Fisher's exact tests; non-parametric tests compared scores across groups; multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of adequate KAP. Results. Among patients (mean age 45.9 ± 14.1 years; 64.0% male), only 35.5% had good knowledge, 18.0% had a good attitude, and 11.5% reported good practices. Item-level gaps were striking: only 42.0% knew that dyslipidaemia can cause stroke and 39.0% that it harms the kidneys. Educational attainment was the strongest independent predictor of adequate knowledge (none/primary vs. graduate or higher: aOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09–0.49, p < 0.001). The most cited barriers were lack of knowledge (38.2%), forgetfulness (30.2%), and family eating habits (60.0%). Among HCPs, knowledge and attitudes were broadly favourable, but only 63.1% reported routine use of any lipid-management guideline; usage was strongly linked to having attended a continuing-medical-education (CME) workshop (95.2% vs. 33.8%, p < 0.001). HCPs identified low health literacy (94.6%), cultural dietary patterns (93.1%), and treatment cost (83.8%) as the principal barriers. Conclusion. Substantial gaps exist along the patient–clinician continuum of dyslipidaemia care in Pakistan. Multilevel interventions, including patient education tailored to low-literacy groups, expanded CME on guideline-based lipid management, and structural action on medication cost, are likely required to translate clinical knowledge into measurable cardiovascular risk reduction.

Keywords: dyslipidaemia; KAP study; cardiovascular risk; statin adherence; Pakistan; health literacy; clinical practice guidelines.