Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Exploratory study into awareness of heart disease and healthcare seeking behaviour among  
Emirati women (UAE) - Cross sectional descriptive study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Jan 2017  
 
Reviewer: Puja K. Mehta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The authors ha ve reported on an important women's health issue on heart disease awareness 
among Emirati women and their healthcare seeking behavior.  
 
 
 
The manuscript in its current form at times reads more like a Review so I recommend shortening 
the introduction and the discussion to help focus the reader on original, new information from 
this study (and compare and contrast the findings of this study with published literature).  
 
 
 
1. The term cardiovascular disease can be abbreviated to CVD throughout (after it is first 
defined).  
 
 
2. The introduction is too long - recommend shortening it to 2 -3 paragraphs.  
 
 
3. Since percentages are presented in Figure 4, no need to duplicate the information and 
specific percentages again in the text (i.e. lines 300 to 303 can be deleted).    
 
 
4. No need to repeat the text that is presented in Figure 2 (i.e. lines 260 -262).  
 
 
5. In Table 2, would label the columns numbers --> n and %.  
 
 
6. In the background, line 62 - "Since a heart attack usually occurs at older ages in women 
compared to men ...." 
 
 
7. For Figure 3 - The x -axis labels are cut -off (there are two labels with "Chest..").  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an addition al statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the f ollowing questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal