The frequency of hypertension and contributing variables among hospital staff

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HT) is a prevalent, serious condition that often remains undiagnosed until severe complications occur, such as heart attacks or strokes. Globally, hypertension affects over 1.13 billion people, contributing significantly to mortality and healthcare costs. Occupational factors, including work-related stress, long hours, and physical strain, contribute to the high prevalence of hypertension among healthcare workers. Despite the known risks, research on hypertension among healthcare workers. This study aims to assess the prevalence of hypertension among university hospital staff and identify key socio-demographic and occupational factors influencing its prevalence.

Methods: This study involving 3,500 hospital staff from a large university hospital. Data were collected during an annual health examination, including socio-demographic information, medical history, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg. The study categorized participants by job role, age, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other occupational factors. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed to assess associations between hypertension and these variables.

Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 14.8%, with 65.8% of affected individuals having a known history of the condition. Higher prevalence was found in men, individuals aged 60 and above, and those with higher BMI. Among job roles, administrative staff had the highest hypertension prevalence (76.9%), followed by other roles such as technicians and nurses. Significant occupational risk factors included longer work tenure, non-shift work, and permanent employment. Logistic regression identified male gender, age ≥60, and obesity as independent risk factors for hypertension.

Conclusion: The study underscores the influence of socio-demographic and occupational factors on hypertension prevalence among healthcare workers. Men, older hospital staff , and those with obesity were identified as high-risk groups. Targeted interventions, including lifestyle modifications, early detection, and management programs, are essential to address hypertension in these populations. Increasing awareness and providing tailored healthcare strategies for high-risk groups could significantly reduce the burden of hypertension in hospital settings.