10-YEAR PREDICTED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK AMONG CLINICAL HEALTH WORKERS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT TEACHING HOS-PITAL

Abstract

Background:  Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are diseases that affect the heart and the vascular system. The highest rate of mortality resulting 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 modifications. Clinical health workers are people employed by hospitals that take care and maintain patients' 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 collection, a descriptive cross-sectional 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 prediction tool and Risk Score-Category. WHO/ISH risk prediction 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 participants 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 continuous variables were presented as means while mainly categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. In testing whether the identified 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 quantifying the identified predictors, factor analysis and multinomial logistic regression were done respectively.

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 participants had waist circumference above 94 cm, and 217 (90.79%) female participants 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 diabetic. 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 identified 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 inactivity were the identified predictors of CVD among the respondents.

Blood pressure represented a stronger claim while physical inactivity and poor intake of fruit and vegetable demonstrated a less strong claim. Physical inactivity and blood pressure were identified as predictors of moderate CVD risk.

Conclusion: Health education and sensitization 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.