Cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure levels among university administrative staff: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: University administrative staff constitute a population exposed to specific cardiovascular risk factors, such as prolonged sedentary behavior and work-related stress, which are often underestimated compared to faculty or healthcare personnel.

Objective: To describe the preliminary cardiometabolic risk profile among administrative staff at the East Private University, Ciudad del Este campus, in 2024.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 36 administrative staff members was included. A risk factor and anthropometric measurements questionnaire was administered. Blood pressure (BP) was measured following standardized protocols (two readings), strictly excluding those who had consumed stimulants in the preceding 30 minutes.

Results: Thirty six employees were evaluated, 36.1% of the initial sample was excluded from clinical measurement due to recent consumption of caffeine/mate, resulting in n=23 valid BP measurements. A prevalence of excess weight of 86.1% was found (50.0% overweight, 36.1% obese), and 65.2% of participants reported frequent or constant work-related stress. No statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of obesity by sex (p=1.000).

Conclusion: A high prevalence of obesity, increased waist circumference, and work-related stress was observed in the study population. A significant proportion of the subjects measured had blood pressure readings outside the normal range, suggesting the need to consider the development of institutional occupational health programs, which should be confirmed by studies with larger sample sizes.