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Background: This study aims to investigate the short-term effect of khat on the diastolic and systolic blood pressure (DBP, SBP) and heart rate (HR) of Yemeni adults. Factors associated with Khat and dependency were also investigated, that the khat chewing is a growing public habit among Yemeni people. Methods: A cross sectional-study was conducted between April and September 2021 in Taiz, Yemen. 100 healthy adult were selected using a random sampling method. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to collect the data. The DBP, SBP and HR were measured using an electronic apparatus (visocor OM50). The Severity of Dependency Scale (SDS-Kat) was used to evaluate the psychological dependence. SPSS (version 21) program was used for data analysis. Results: The DBP and SBP were significantly elevated after either 05. H or 1 h of khat chewing in comparison to DBP and SBP at zero time (DBP: 77.90±9, 79.86±10 versus 73.82±7; SBP: 115.36±12, 119.11±15, versus 110.46±11; P = 0.00 for each), as well the HR was significantly elevated after either 05. H or 1 h of khat chewing in comparison to HR at zero time (80.27±12, 81.29±12 versus 78.33±11; P = 0.04 and 0.00 respectively). The effect of khat chewing on the DBP and SBP sound to be age-dependent; since the chewers with 40-49 years old were more affected than others ages but the HR exhibited no change after chewing among the chewers with different ages. It looks there is a synergistic effect between khat chewing and abnormal body mass index (BMI) on the elevation of blood pressure in particular DBP. The blood pressures of the single chewers are more affected by khat chewing more than married ones (DBP: 83.67±11 versus 76.19±8; SBP: 126.71±15 versus 111.80±11, P = 0.00 for each) but The HR exhibited no significantly difference between single and married chewers. The results showed that no significantly difference in the DBP, SBP and HR between chewers with different education levels. The SDS-Khat score was 5.28±3.24. 58% of the khat chewers were more likely dependent, while 42.2% were less likely dependent and the males were more likely dependent than females (5.91±2.92 versus 3.72±3.51; P = 0.005). The chewers awareness for the psychological effect of khat were not related to the dependence except their awareness for khat-causing nightmare (OR = 2.92; CI 95%: 1.27 - 6.69, P = 0.013). Conclusion: the elevation of DBP and SBP is affected by khat chewing; to a less extent, HR is affected. Another finding is the synergistic effect of abnormal BMI and khat chewing on the elevation of blood pressure in particular DBP. In addition, the gender-based dependence is reported according to SDS-Khat, since the males were more likely khat-dependent than females.
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