Study of cardiovascular risk factors among tertiary hospital employees and their families.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in most countries of the world. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among administrative employees working at a tertiary hospital (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) and their families.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a total of 453 individuals aged 30 years and above (N1 = 453 for the questionnaire, anthropometric and clinical parameters; N2 = 429 for biochemical investigations). Evaluation for cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and serum lipids were performed using standard definitions. The mean age of the study group was 43.3 +/- 9.5 years. There was a high prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors--current smoking in 58 (12.8%), tobacco consumption in 26 (5.7%), family history of coronary artery disease 79 (17.4%), diabetes mellitus in 25 (5.8%), hypertension in 94 (20.7%), hyperlipidemia--hypercholesterolemia in 110 (25.7%) & hypertriglyceridemia in 148 (34.5%), physical inactivity in 180 (39.7%), body mass index e" 23 kg/m2 in 350 (77.3%), central obesity i.e. waist circumference > 90 cm for males and > 80 cm for females -in 201 (80.1%) of males and 163 (80.7%) of females, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption in 387 (85.4%), heavy drinking in 12 (2.6%), and stress in 58 (12.7%).

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated an overall high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors even amongst employees at a tertiary hospital and their families. This indicates an urgent need to initiate a comprehensive health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention programme at workplace and community level.