Profile of non-communicable Disease Risk Factors Among Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Purpose

The work nature of nurses and the associated lifestyle changes put them at high risk of developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of NCD risk factors among nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry and to determine the associated factors among nurses.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among all nurses (N = 1217) in the tertiary care hospital aged between 21 and 60 from May 2019 to April 2020. We assessed NCDs behavioral, physical, and biochemical risk factors using a self-administered questionnaire. The adjusted prevalence ratio was calculated using a generalized linear regression model to determine factors associated with NCD risk factors.

Results

The response rate was 99.0% (1217/1229), and 77.5% of the participants were women. Current tobacco use and alcohol consumption were 1.5% (95% CI: 0.8–2.2) and 2.9% (95% CI: 2–3.9), respectively, with significantly higher prevalence among men. Overweight or obesity (body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m²) was 77.7%, with a significantly higher prevalence among those aged ≥30 and married. Prevalence of hypertension was 14.4% (95% CI: 12.5–16.4), and diabetes mellitus was 11.5% (95% CI: 9.7–13.6). Both were significantly higher among those aged ≥50 years. One-third of nurses, 34.3% (95% CI: 31.6–37.1), had hypercholesterolemia, significantly higher among men.

Conclusion

We found a high prevalence of various NCD risk factors among the nurses. We highlight the urgent need for initiating health promotion interventions, especially to improve intake of healthy diet and physical activity among nurses aged ≥30 years.