BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to assess the common lifestyle risk factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) among patients with chronic diseases.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a valid structured questionnaire among 734 patients with chronic diseases. Patients were randomly selected from five primary health care centers in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia during January to February 2024. The study survey included a checklist of socio-demographic and lifestyle variables; the Arabic short version of the World Health Organization QoL questionnaire was used. The SPSS (version 24) was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 734 patients (14.7% males and 85.3% females) were included. The mean age of the patients was 48.54±19 years. The total QoL and its four domains mean scores were relatively high, with no statistically significant differences were found between males and females. Statistically significant reductions in the positive (good) QoL were found in patients with obesity; patients who using butter and animal fat in cooking; and patients who eating meals out > 3 times per week (OR 0.64 CI 95% (0.325-0.891)), (OR 0.21 CI 95% (0.031-0.754)), and (OR 0.42 CI 95% (0.112-0.851)) respectively.

CONCLUSION: The current study shows high level (69.3%) of good QoL among patients with chronic diseases at the primary healthcare centers in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, obesity, poor cooking practices, and eating meals outside-home are the main unhealthy lifestyle factors that impaired the level of the QoL among the studied population.

KEYWORDS: Chronic diseases, Lifestyle factors, Riyadh, Primary health care centers, Quality of life, Saudi Arabia