Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Assessment Among University Employees in India and Its Implications on Planning
Abhijeet H Jagtap1,2, Uma S Mahajan3, Abhay M Kudale2
1Public Health, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University, Solapur, IND.
Insights
University employees in India show high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including hypertension and obesity. Urgent workplace interventions are needed to address these prevalent CVD risks.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Cardiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- University employees globally exhibit elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.
- In India, regular screening for CVD risk factors among university employees is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated CVD risk factors among employees at Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University.
- To identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and work-related factors contributing to CVD risk in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 126 university employees (teaching, administrative, support staff).
- Data collected via WHO STEPS questionnaire, including physiological, anthropometric, worksite, and sociodemographic variables.
- Statistical analyses included chi-square/Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression to identify risk factors.
Main Results:
- Hypertension prevalence was 42%.
- A significant clustering of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors (≥3) was observed in 88% of employees.
- Key risk factors included overweight/obesity (64%), family history of CVDs (62%), unhealthy diet (61%), and abdominal obesity (45%).
- Male gender, age >40, alcohol consumption, smoking, higher income, and employment type were associated with increased CVD risk.
Conclusions:
- University employees face a substantial risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
- There is an urgent need for targeted worksite CVD prevention and health promotion programs for university staff.
Introduction:
University employees worldwide have a relatively higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, in the Indian context, most University employees are not regularly screened for CVD risk factors. Against this background, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypertension and CVD risk factors among Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University employees in India.
Material And Methods:
This cross-sectional study included the university's teaching, administrative, and support staff (n=126). Data on physiological, anthropometric, worksite, and sociodemographic variables were collected using the WHO Stepwise approach to noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factor surveillance (STEPS) questionnaire. The chi-square/Fisher's exact test was used to test the association of employees' sociodemographics, work-related addictions, diet intake, exercise, and health-related characteristics with CVD risk. The univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the factors associated with CVD risk.
Results:
The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 42%. There was a clustering of NCD risk factors (≥ 3 risk factors) in 88% (n=111) of employees. Overweight and obesity were the most prominent risk factors identified in 64% (n=81) of the employees, followed by family history of CVDs (62%, n=78), unhealthy dietary habits (61%, n=77), abdominal obesity (45%, n=57), and raised blood pressure (42%, n=53). Further, men's gender, age of more than 40 years, family structure, consumption of alcohol, smoking, higher monthly income, and academic and regular employment were the risk factors significantly associated with future CVD development risk.
Conclusion:
University employees are prone to developing CVDs, and urgent attention is needed to develop worksite CVD prevention and health promotion interventions.
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