Knowledge, risk perception, and associated factors of cardiovascular disease among adult with type 2 diabetic mellitus attending public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Understanding diabetes patients' knowledge and perception of CVD risk factors is essential for enhancing the quality of patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, risk perception, and factors associated with cardiovascular disease among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 389 participants via systematic random sampling from public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were collected via a pre-tested structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (version 27.0). Predictors of CVD knowledge and risk perception were identified through multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance was defined as (P < 0.05) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of 389 participants, 61.4% (95% CI: 56.6–66.2%) had good CVD knowledge and 43.4% (95% CI: 38.5–48.3%) demonstrated good risk perception. Factors significantly associated with good knowledge included secondary education (AOR = 6.15, P = 0.037), being married (AOR = 2.56, P = 0.018), and regular exercise (AOR = 2.63, P < 0.001), while history of smoking (AOR = 0.25, P < 0.001) and high-fat diet consumption (AOR = 0.23, P < 0.001) were inversely associated. Higher risk perception was independently predicted by age 41–64 years (AOR = 1.90, P = 0.032) and regular exercise (AOR = 2.35, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to improve low CVD knowledge and risk perception among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, particularly addressing disparities by educational levels, marital status, age, and modifiable behavioral factors.