AimThis study was designed to investigate primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in a primary care setting in Jordan.MethodsAdult patients without clinical cardiovascular disease who attended a primary care setting were interviewed and their medical files were reviewed. Data collected to assess primary prevention of cardiovascular disease included lifestyle/risk factor screening, weight assessment, blood pressure measurement and control, and blood lipid measurement and control.ResultsA total of 224 patients were interviewed. The proportions of patients’ files with risk factors documentation were 37.9% for smoking status, 30.4% for physical activity assessment and 72.8% for blood pressure assessment. The majority of hypertensive patients (95.9%) had a blood pressure reading at their most recent visit of ⩽140/90 or was prescribed ⩾2 antihypertensive medications.ConclusionDocumentation of cardiovascular disease risk factors was suboptimal. Healthcare providers should be encouraged to document and assess cardiovascular risk factors to improve primary prevention.