High burden of cardiometabolic risk factors among university lecturers: a cross-sectional study in cape coast, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The escalating burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents a significant threat to health and sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana. University lecturers represent a vital professional group whose occupational environment may predispose them to NCD risks, yet specific data remains limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of major NCDs and their attributable risk factors among university lecturers in Cape Coast, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 university lecturers. Data on socio-demographics, behavioral risk factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, diet), psychosocial stress, and metabolic outcomes were collected through a structured questionnaire, physical measurements, and biochemical tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Results: Among the 400 lecturers, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 57.0% (overweight: 32.0%; obesity: 25.0%). The prevalence of clinical hypertension (≥ 140/90 mmHg) was 39.0% (95% CI: 34.2–44.0%), while diabetes mellitus was 8.5% (95% CI: 5.9–11.7%). High psychosocial stress was reported by 35.5% of lecturers and was a significant predictor of hypertension (AOR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2–3.1). Physical inactivity was the strongest predictor for obesity (AOR 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7–4.3), and obesity was the leading predictor for diabetes (AOR 3.5; 95% CI: 1.8–6.8). Conclusion: University lecturers in Ghana bear a considerable NCD burden, driven by a combination of occupational stress, behavioral, and metabolic risk factors. The findings underscore the urgent need for interventions, including structured workplace wellness programs, environmental modifications to promote healthy lifestyles, and routine health screening, to address both individual behaviors and the structural drivers of risk within the academic work environment.