title: Prevalence of hypertension and its correlates among employees of a tertiary hospital in Yenagoa, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension (HTN) is a common medical problem with increasing prevalence and dire consequences. Considering the relative proximity of hospital workers to health care delivery, one may expect a better control of HTN and associated risk factors in this population. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of HTN and risk factors among hospital employees in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  All employees of the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa (Bayelsa State, Nigeria) were invited for a HTN screening exercise on the world kidney day on March 14, 2013. A total of 231 participants completed this cross-sectional study. Data was obtained with a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire while blood pressure was taken with an Accoson sphygmomanometer. Anthropometry was done using standardized protocols. Urine and blood were analyzed for glucose. HTN was defined as blood pressure >140/90 or prior diagnosis or use of antihypertensives. Data was entered, stored and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The crude and age-adjusted prevalence of HTN among the hospital employee was 21.3% and 23.8% respectively. Age, marital status, educational level, body mass index, waist circumference (WC) and waist hip ratio showed significant association with HTN in the univariate analysis. However, in multivariate regression analysis, only older age and abnormal WC predicted HTN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HTN among the hospital employees compared with reports in other population and was predicted by advancing age and abnormal WC. The study underscores the need for introduction of HTN screening programs among hospital employees especially staff that are older with truncal obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Niger Delta University, Okolobiri; Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oghenekaro Godwin
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Egbi
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rotifa
authors.forename: Johnbull
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jumbo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055105:Waist Circumference