10-year predicted cardiovascular disease risk among clinical health workers in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are diseases that affect the heart and the vascular system. The highest rate of mortality resulMng from non-communicable diseases is majorly from CVDs. 10 – year predicted risk of CVD is the chance that one can develop CVD due to poor lifestyle modificaMons. Clinical health workers are people employed by hospitals that take care and maintain paMents' health. Finding the 10 – year predicted CVD risk of clinical staff at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching is the goal of this study.

Methods: In data collecMon, a descripMve cross-secMonal study, and WHO STEP instruments for NCDs  were used. Current and 10 – year  predicted risk of CVD among clinical health workers was  determined by making use of WHO/ISH risk predicMon tool and Risk  Score-Category. WHO/ISH  risk predicMon tool was adjusted so that low risk represents below 10%, moderate risk  represents 10% to less  than 20% and high risk represents 20% and above. With the use of the  Risk Score-Category, a risk score of 1 was given to parMcipants if  there is any risk factor present. Those considered  to be at low risk were having a score between 0 – 2, moderate risk between 3 – 5, and  above  6 overall risk factors were classified as high-risk category.  For all conMnuous variables were presented as means while mainly  categorical variables were  presented as frequencies and percentages. In tesMng whether the idenMfied risk factor and risk category of  CVD, and professional cadre and risk category of CVD were in any way  associated, Chi-square was used. To ascertain the predictors of  CVD and in quanMfying the  idenMfied predictors, factor analysis and mulMnomial logisMc regression were done  respecMvely. 

Results:  334 health workers responded and 76 (22.75%) were males while 258 (77.25%) were  females. 214 (60.07%) were overweight/obese, 30  (45.78 %) of male parMcipants had waist  circumference above 94 cm, and 217 (90.79%) female parMcipants had waist circumference  above 80 cm. 51 (15.32%) had systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg, 46 (13.77%) had diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg, and 10  (2.99%) were diabeMc. 132 (39.52%) were at  low risk, 192 (57.49%) were moderate risk and, 10 (2.99%) were at the category of a high  risk  of developing CVD. The idenMfied risk factors and the risk category of CVD were found to be  associated with a p-value = <0.001, and  professional cadre was not associated with the risk  category of CVD Fisher’s exact = 0.416. Hypertension, poor intake of fruits and  vegetables,  diabetes, and physical inacMvity were the idenMfied predictors of CVD among the respondents.  Blood pressure represented  a stronger claim while physical inacMvity and poor intake of fruit  and vegetable demonstrated a less strong claim. Physical inacMvity and  blood pressure were  idenMfied as predictors of moderate CVD risk.

Conclusion: Health educaMon and sensiMzaMon are needed to  put clinical health workers from  both high and moderate risk to low CVD risk. UPTH should make available early diagnosis and  a  treatment for clinical health workers to easily access it.