Awareness and Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Workers in an Agro-allied Company in Nigeria

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases have significantly increased in the last century becoming the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Work, worksite situations and practices are known to influence cardiovascular risk factors, hence the aim of this study to assess the awareness and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among workers in an agro-allied industry in Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out to find out those with cardiovascular risk factors. Data were collected using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire developed using the WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk surveillance. The mean age of the respondents was 34 ± 9.7 years. More than half 303 (59.4) of the respondents had high awareness of cardiovascular risk factors. Of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, 6.9% were current daily smokers, 15.1% abuse alcohol, 89.8% engaged in unhealthy diet, 66.5% do not engage in moderate/vigorous physical activities, 14.5% had family history of cardiovascular diseases, 17.8%% were overweight/obese and 37.1% were hypertensive. Overall, 64.5% of the respondents were classified as having low risk of developing cardiovascular diseases while about 30.4% had moderate risk and 2.7% had high risk. We recommend that health education regarding cardiovascular diseases risk factors be delivered periodically.