| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 14
| Issue : 1 | Page : 8-17 |
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Prevalence of hypertension and its correlates among employees of a tertiary hospital in Yenagoa, Nigeria
Oghenekaro Godwin Egbi1, Stella Rotifa2, Johnbull Jumbo1
1 Department of Medicine, Niger Delta University, Okolobiri; Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
2 Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Oghenekaro Godwin Egbi
Dialysis Unit, Federal Medical Centre, P. M. B 502, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.148709
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Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a common medical problem with increasing prevalence and dire consequences. Considering the relative proximity of hospital workers to health care delivery, one may expect a better control of HTN and associated risk factors in this population. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of HTN and risk factors among hospital employees in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
Materials and Methods: All employees of the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa (Bayelsa State, Nigeria) were invited for a HTN screening exercise on the world kidney day on March 14, 2013. A total of 231 participants completed this cross-sectional study. Data was obtained with a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire while blood pressure was taken with an Accoson sphygmomanometer. Anthropometry was done using standardized protocols. Urine and blood were analyzed for glucose. HTN was defined as blood pressure >140/90 or prior diagnosis or use of antihypertensives. Data was entered, stored and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 20.
Results: The crude and age-adjusted prevalence of HTN among the hospital employee was 21.3% and 23.8% respectively. Age, marital status, educational level, body mass index, waist circumference (WC) and waist hip ratio showed significant association with HTN in the univariate analysis. However, in multivariate regression analysis, only older age and abnormal WC predicted HTN.
Conclusion: The prevalence of HTN among the hospital employees compared with reports in other population and was predicted by advancing age and abnormal WC. The study underscores the need for introduction of HTN screening programs among hospital employees especially staff that are older with truncal obesity. |
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