Knowledge and prevalence of risk factors for arterial hypertension and blood pressure pattern among bankers and traffic wardens in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: High job strain, mental stress, sedentary lifestyle, increase in BMI are among the factors associated with significantly higher incidence of hypertension. The job of bank employees is both sedentary in nature and accompanies high mental stress. The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge of risk factors among respondents and to compare the blood pressure pattern of bankers and traffic wardens. Methodology: The study design is a descriptive cross-sectional conducted among bankers and traffic wardens in Ilorin to determine the pattern and knowledge of blood pressure. Self-administered questionnaires, weighing scale (Omron Digital scale), stadiometer and sphygmomanometer were used as the research instruments. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents involved in the study. Results:The prevalence of hypertension in this study was 34.4% in bankers and 22.2% in traffic wardens. The risk factors the bankers commonly had knowledge of are alcohol, obesity, high salt intake, certain drugs, stress, emotional problems and family history while the traffic wardens commonly had knowledge of all these in addition to cigarette smoking. Also, more bankers (32.2%) than traffic wardens (13.3%) were smoking cigarette and more of these cigarette smokers that are bankers (17.8%) had elevated blood pressure compared to the traffic wardens (3.3%). Conclusion: Workers in the banking industry as well as traffic wardens should be better educated about the risk factors of hypertension and bankers should be encouraged to create time for exercise.

Prevalence and awareness of hypertension and associated risk factors among bank workers in Owerri, Nigeria

“…Their job specification can be stressful and can be associated with elevated blood pressure. [9][10][11][12]20] A total of 194 bank workers were studied with slightly more males (51.5%) compared to the females (48.5%). More than half the number of workers studied, 105 (54.1%), were less than 30 years of age suggesting that most bank workers are in their third decade of life when they are most suited to withstand the associated stress.…”

“…[9] However, among bankers in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, the prevalence of hypertension was observed to be 34.4%. [10] In Nigeria, awareness of blood pressure status was observed to be 7.7% among men and 8.7% among women but significantly higher among previously diagnosed hypertensives. [4] Among bank workers in Benin city, Edo state, 48.4% had correct knowledge of hypertension, 70.8% had good knowledge of its complications and 65.1% had good knowledge of its risk factors.…”

Peningkatan Pengetahuan Terkait Hipertensi Guna Perbaikan Tekanan Darah pada Pemuda di Dusun Japanan, Margodadi, Seyegan, Sleman, Yogyakarta

“…Penelitian lain menyebutkan bahwa pendidikan tidak berpengaruh signifikan ter hadap tekanan darah (Lee, 2017). Meskipun beberapa hasil penelitian tidak menunjukkan hasil yang sesuai, beberapa faktor ini disebut memengaruhi peningkatan tekanan darah, yaitu rokok, alkohol, obesitas, makanan tinggi garam, obat-obatan, stres, permasalahan emosional, dan riwayat keluarga (Salaudeen, dkk., 2014).…”

Association of Physical Activity with Co-morbid Conditions in Geriatric Population

“…According to the figures, it can be deduced that lack of physical activity has a strong association with more than 30% of annual deaths [6]. Multiple researches have been conducted to evaluate the affiliation between lack of physical activity and incidence/prevalence of morbidities [7]. In an International Cross-Sectional Study, the odds ratio of CHD in sedentary women was found to be 2.1% (95% CI 1.0-4.3, P=0.046) [8].…”