Changes in risk factors for non-communicable diseases associated with the ‘Healthy choices at work’ programme, South Africa

Figures & data

Table 1. Participation in healthy choices at work programme over two years (N = 137)

HCW activities	%
Ate wellness meal > 1/week	44.5
Often/always ate fruit provided during outage	62.0
Often/always participated in physical activity during outage	5.1
Often/always participated in monthly First Friday sport	27.7
Often/always attended weekly functional exercise session	2.2
Often/always participated in weekly lunchtime walks	32.8
Often/always participated in weekly lunchtime runs	7.3
Often/always participated in weekly lunchtime cycles	4.4
Ever attended community park run events (yes/no)	24.1
Participated in biggest loser competition (yes/no)	8.8
Obtained health risk assessment feedback (yes/no)	100.0
Received behaviour change counselling (yes/no)	80.3

Table 2. Change in psychosocial factors causing stress (N = 137)

Stress factors	Baseline %	Follow up %	p value
Work
Relationship with colleagues	21.1	11.3	0.015
Lack of recognition	18.8	18.8	1.000
Lack of resources to do my work	29.5	30.3	1.000
Lack of meaningful work	15.1	13.5	0.664
Relationship with my supervisor	9.8	12.0	0.664
Lack of clarity concerning work outputs	20.9	15.7	0.265
Personal
Personal finances	29.8	18.3	0.008
My health or family member’s health	22.3	10.8	0.006
Relationship with family/children	16.0	13.7	0.690
Relationship with my partner/spouse	13.3	9.2	0.210
Emotional/mental health concerns	8.8	4.7	0.227
I have challenges with addictions	3.3	0.8	0.250

Figure 1. Age and sex distribution of participants (N = 137)

Table 3. Change in behavioural risk factors (N = 137)

	Baseline %(95% CI)	Follow up % (95% CI)	p value
Sensible alcohol drinker (AUDIT score < 8)	78.2 (70.4: 84.8)	93.5 (90.5: 98.6)	0.001
Harmful alcohol drinker (AUDIT score 8–19)	21.0 (14.5: 28.8)	4.8 (2.0: 9.7)
Dependent alcohol drinker (AUDIT score ≥ 20)	0.8 (0.1: 3.7)	1.6 (0.3: 5.1)
Tobacco smoking	25.0 (18.0: 33.1)	21.8 (15.2: 29.6)	0.344
Inadequate fruit & vegetable intake (< 5 portions/day)	73.2 (64.9: 80.4)	35.8 (27.7: 44.5)	˂0.001
Insufficiently active (< 600 MET minutes/week)	55.9 (46.9: 64.7)	34.7 (26.6: 43.6)	˂0.001

Table 4. Change in metabolic risk factors (N = 137)

Risk factors	Baseline Mean (SD)	Follow up Mean (SD)	Mean of the difference (95% CI)	p value
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	131.6 (18.5)	121.4 (14.6)	−10.2 (−7.3: −13.2)	< 0.001
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	83.4 (13.7)	79.5 (8.8)	−3.87 (−1.8: −5.8)	˂ 0.001
Total cholesterol (mmol/l)	5.6 (1.1)	5.1 (1.1)	−0.45 (−0.3: −0.6)	˂ 0.001
Random glucose (mmol/l)	5.7 (1.5)	6.0 (2.0)	0.31 (−0.6: 0.2)	0.069
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	29.0 (5.5)	29.0 (5.7)	−0.05 (−0.4: 0.3)	0.760
Waist circumference (cm)	92.1 (14.3)	92.2 (14.4)	0.05 (−1.1: 1.0)	0.926
Waist to hip ratio (cm)	0.86 (0.1)	0.87 (0.1)	−0.00 (−0.0: 0.0)	0.484

Table 5. Prevalence of self-reported non-communicable disorders and medication use

	Diagnosis of NCD			Medication for NCD
	Baseline % (95% CI)	Follow up % (95% CI)	p value	Baseline % (95% CI)	Follow up % (95% CI)	p value
Diabetes	6.0 (2.9: 10.9)	9.0 (3.4: 11.9)	0.317	7.0 (3.5: 12.4)	8.6 (4.7: 14.4)	0.625
Hypertension	15.9 (10.4: 22.7)	18.9 (10.4: 22.7)	0.311	14.0 (8.8:20.7)	18.6 (12.8: 26.0)	0.146
High cholesterol	16.4 (10.9: 23.4)	14.9 (11.5: 24.2)	0.303	13.0 (8.0: 19.5)	13.7 (8.7: 20.4)	1.000
Heart condition	6.0 (2.9: 10.9)	4.5 (2.9: 10.9)	0.687	4.5 (1.9: 9.1)	3.8 (1.4: 8.0)	1.000
Lung condition	5.3 (2.4: 10.0)	6.1 (2.4: 10.0)	1.000	3.7 (1.4: 8.0)	3.0 (1.0: 6.9)	1.000
Cancer	2.3 (0.6: 5.9)	3.0 (1.0: 6.9)	1.000	1.5 (0.36: 4.7)	0.7 (0.1: 3.4)	1.000
Depression	15.0 (9.7: 21.8)	13.5 (9.7: 21.8)	0.250	11.2(6.7: 17.3)	10.4 (6.1: 16.5)	1.000

Table 6. 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (N = 137)

Variable	Baseline % (95% CI)	Follow Up % (95% CI)	p value
Low risk	66.2 (57.8: 73.8)	67.7 (59.4: 75.2)	0.155
Moderate risk	18.0 (11.2: 44.5)	21.1 (7.2: 34.8)
High risk	15.8 (6.8: 39.2)	11.3 (6.0: 44.4)