Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Healthcare Providers at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon

TL;DR

This study found that healthcare professionals in Cameroon have significant cardiovascular risk factors, especially related to physical activity and diet, with physicians and those of higher socioeconomic status at greater risk.

Contribution

The study provides a detailed assessment of cardiovascular risk factors among healthcare professionals in Cameroon, highlighting disparities by profession and socioeconomic status.

Findings

Most healthcare professionals were in the high-risk zone for physical activity and moderate-risk zone for diet.

Physicians had higher cardiovascular risk factor scores compared to other healthcare professionals.

Higher socioeconomic status was associated with increased cardiovascular risk scores.

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to assess cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) among healthcare professionals (HCPs) practicing at the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH) in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Methodology

This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study involving HCPs practicing at the BRH. Data on lifestyle risk factors were collected across several units and services of the BRH by using a modified Health Improvement Card (HIC).

Results

A total of 237 participants were included in the final analysis; most were female (59.1%). The mean age of the sample was 30.1 ± 5.8 years. Based on the HIC, most HCPs were in the medium-risk zone (54.0%) for diet; in the high-risk zone for physical activity (68.4%); and in the low-risk zone for tobacco use and alcohol consumption (97.9% and 82.3%, respectively). The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increases from a low to high-risk level. The mean HIC score was 10.3 ± 1.8 in males), and 10.2 ± 1.7 in females (p=0.781). The age group of 20-30 years had the lowest HIC score, with a mean of 9.9 ± 1.6; those over 40 years had higher HIC scores, with a mean of 11.5 ± 1.4 (p=0.000). When HIC CVRFs were quantified (higher score indicates higher risk), the HIC scores were highest in physicians (11.0 ± 1.8), followed by pharmacists (11.0 ± 1.4) and nurses (10.5 ± 1.7), and lowest in physiotherapists (8.0 ± 1.1) (p=0.000). Regarding socioeconomic status, the mean HIC scores were highest for the upper class (11.5 ± 1.3), followed by the middle (10.0 ± 1.9) and lower classes (10.0 ± 1.7) (p=0.013).

Conclusions

Most participants were in the low-risk zone for BMI and alcohol and tobacco use; in the moderate-risk zone for healthy diet and blood pressure; and the high-risk zone for physical activity and exercise. Physicians exhibited higher levels of CVRFs compared to other healthcare professionals. Furthermore, high socioeconomic status was associated with a high risk of CVD. Our findings identify opportunities for targeted training and effective interventions to reduce the burden of CVDs among HCPs and beyond and maximize their potential as health educators and influencers with their patients and students.