Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among workers at a private tertiary center in Angola

Abstract

Background

The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa. However, as there is a scarcity of data, little is known about CVD in Angola. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, prediabetes, diabetes, overweight, and obesity among workers at a private tertiary center in Angola.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 781 workers of Clínica Girassol, a tertiary health care center in Angola, during the month of November 2013. Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical variables were analyzed.

Results

Of the 781 participants studied, 50.44% were males and 78.11% were under 40 years old. The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was 17.93% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.24%–20.74%) and 54.03% (95% CI: 50.58%–57.62%), respectively. Among hypertensive subjects, 83.57% (117) were unaware of the diagnosis. Hypertension was associated with age (≥40 years) (odds ratio [OR]: 6.21; 95% CI: 4.18–9.24; P<0.001) and with overweight and obesity (OR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.56–3.44; P<0.001). The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 2.69% (95% CI: 1.54%–3.97%) and 7.94% (95% CI: 6.02%–9.99%), respectively. The prevalence of overweight was 34.44% (95% CI: 31.11%–37.90%) and 19.85% (95% CI: 17.03%–22.79%) for obesity. There was an association between overweight and obesity and the female sex (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.29–2.28; P<0.001). The prevalence of family history of CVD, smoking, and alcoholism was 52.24%, 4.87%, and 45.33%, respectively.

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy workers at the private tertiary center in Angola.

Keywords:

• risk factors
• hypertension
• prehypertension
• diabetes mellitus
• obesity
• Angola

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely acknowledge the hospital board and workers of the Clínica Girassol, Luanda, Angola.

Author contributions

FCP and VM analyzed the data and wrote the paper. All authors contributed to conception and design of the study, performed the data collection, revised, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.