Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases among Medical Staff in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Healthcare workers have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as a work-related disease and also due to the sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy behavior, and occupational stress to which they are exposed. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of CVDs among medical staff at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 291 medical staff at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through the WHO STEPS questionnaire, physical measurements (BMI, blood pressure), and biochemical assessments (lipid profiles, glucose levels). Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed using SPSS version 26 to identify the prevalence and determinants of CVD risk factors. Ethical approval was obtained, and all participants provided informed consent.The mean age of participants was 35 years, with 20% being smokers and 50% insufficiently active. Obesity (50%), hypertension (30%), and diabetes (10%) were prevalent clinical risk factors. High LDL cholesterol (30%) and low HDL cholesterol (20%) were observed. Key predictors of CVD included hypertension (OR = 3.20), diabetes (OR = 2.80), obesity (OR = 2.50), and high stress levels (OR = 1.60). This study underscores the need for workplace health interventions targeting modifiable CVD risk factors among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia.