Cardiometabolic risk factors among public school teachers in Vhembe District: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of key cardiometabolic risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, dyslipidaemia and diabetes, among public school teachers in Vhembe district, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 201 public school teachers. Stratified random sampling was used to select teachers on the teachers' list obtained from the Department of Education. Anthropometric measurement variables, which included including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP), were measured. Biochemical analyses included fasting blood profiles, measuring total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TGL) and glucose levels. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 17, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Obesity was observed in 43.7% of participants, with females demonstrating a significantly (P = 0.000) higher prevalence (62.5%) than males (20.2%). Additionally, 43.2% of participants presented with high-risk WC, with males (50.5%) being more affected than females (37.5%). Stage 1 systolic blood pressure hypertension was identified in 18.4% of participants, and 23.8% had diabetes. Dyslipidaemia was marked by elevated LDL, low HDL and increased triglyceride levels, with a higher prevalence in females.

The findings indicate a substantial burden of cardiometabolic risk factors among teachers in the Vhembe district. Urgent implementation of targeted interventions, including health promotion, lifestyle modification, and routine health screenings, is imperative. Further research is needed to validate these findings across different regions in South Africa.