Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Profiling Using Office-Based Risk Score Among the Nursing Staff of a Selected Hospital, Bengaluru, with a View to Conduct a Health Education Program on Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and represent a major public health challenge. Most cardiovascular events are preventable through early identification and modification of risk factors. Office-based cardiovascular risk assessment is a simple, cost-effective, and practical approach that estimates an individual's future risk of cardiovascular disease using easily obtainable clinical parameters without laboratory investigations. Faculty and staff working in educational institutions may be exposed to sedentary work patterns, occupational stress, unhealthy dietary habits, and physical inactivity, which increase their susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases. Early risk profiling among this population can facilitate timely preventive interventions and promote healthier workplace practices.

Aim: To assess cardiovascular risk profiling using an office-based risk score among the Nursing staff of a selected hospital in Bengaluru with a view to conducting a health education programme on the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among faculty and non-teaching staff of a selected College of Nursing in Bengaluru. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire using Google Forms to obtain baseline variables of the participants to assess office-based cardiovascular risk, which included age, gender, history of smoking, diabetes mellitus, blood pressure, and body mass index. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Based on the findings, a structured health education programme on non-communicable disease prevention was planned for the participants.

Results: Among the 58 participants eligible for cardiovascular risk assessment using the WHO Office-Based 10-Year Cardiovascular Risk Score, the majority (32; 55.2%) belonged to the category of low risk (<5%) of developing a cardiovascular event within the next 10 years. A further 18 participants (31.0%) were categorized as having a mild risk (5%–10%), while 8 participants (13.8%) were found to have a moderate risk (>10%–20%). None of the participants were found to have a high risk (>20-30%) or very high risk (>30%). These findings indicate that although most eligible participants had a low predicted cardiovascular risk, nearly half (44.8%) fell into the mild or moderate risk categories, emphasizing the need for early lifestyle modification, regular health monitoring, and preventive interventions to reduce the future burden of cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion: Office-based cardiovascular risk assessment is an effective and feasible screening strategy for the early identification of individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in educational institutions. Integrating regular workplace screening with structured health education programmes can promote healthy lifestyle behaviours, improve awareness, facilitate early intervention, and contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases among faculty and staff.