Determinants of cardiovascular health indices among physicians in a tertiary centre

Background

Physicians spearhead the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases, however, there is a paucity of studies that have assessed the cardiovascular risk profiles of physicians in Africa. We aimed to determine the cardiovascular health indices of a cross-section of physicians in Nigeria.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical doctors in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, with different specialties being proportionally represented. Sociodemographic, work-associated, and cardiovascular factors, together with anthropometry and Fuster-BEWAT score (FBS): blood pressure, exercise, weight (BMI), alimentation and tobacco were used to assess cardiovascular health indices.

Results

The number of doctors enrolled in this study was 251 with a median age of 34; 51.4 % were males. While the mean FBS was 7.8 (±2.1), 1.6 % of physicians had ideal FBS, as 59.4 % and 39.0 % had intermediate and poor FBS respectively. A small proportion of doctors had adequate fruit or vegetable intake (1.2 %), or exercise (10.4 %). The percentages of doctors who had ideal blood pressure and BMI were 46.6 % and 27.9 % respectively. Almost all doctors were non-smokers (98.4 %). Medical officers and residents had better cardiovascular health compared to consultants. There was no statistically significant association between cardiovascular health score and other work-associated factors.

Conclusion

The composite cardiovascular health index of physicians was assessed as intermediate (7.8 on a maximum scale of 15). Positive metrics were normotensive blood pressure (46.6 %) and tobacco use (98.4 %). We recommend that Nigerian physicians need to improve weight, exercise, and alimentation cardiovascular health practices.