PREVALENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS FACTORS AMONG SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS OF THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Introduction: There is a growing awareness that premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other non-communicable diseases reduce productivity, curtails economic growth, and pose a significant social challenge in most countries. The impact of cardiovascular risk factors is very enormous especially on the budget of the health sector since there is an epidemiological change from pathogenic diseases to lifestyle diseases. Objectives: The main aim of the study is to investigate the risk factors of cardiovascular risk factors among school teachers in the Tamale Metropolis. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 school teachers in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. The respondents were selected using simple random sampling procedure. Data was collected on socio demographic characteristics of the respondents through interviews whilst anthropometric measurements and biochemical assessment were done using an Analyzer BT-3000 manufactured in Italy in 2008. Data on Blood Serum Cholesterol, Fasting Blood Sugar, Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure were collected. Results: The study found that 12.5% of the study participants had high total cholesterol level whilst 9% had high triglycerides. Hyperglycemia was the highest in all the indices among the study participants (16%). High cholesterol levels were found among females, singles and Participants with Degrees and Postgraduate Degrees. The mean BMI of the female population was 25.48 ± 0.51 but not statistically different from that of the male 24.86 ± 0.61 (P = 0.44). Cholesterol levels increased with increasing age (P<O.OI) and also increased as BMI increased but not statistically significant (p=0.326). Conclusion Most of the study participants are at risk of developing diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart diseases due to the high levels of cholesterol.