RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AMONG NURSES AND OTHER MEDICAL WORKERS WHO TEACH

Background: Approximately two million deaths occur annually due to cardiovascular diseases, predominantly affecting populations in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to investigate the correlation between cardiovascular risk levels and occupational factors, specifically focusing on instructors at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Methods: A total of 96 professors from the Faculty of Health Sciences participated in this relational, cross-sectional, non-experimental study. Individual cardiovascular risk levels were assessed, and statistical analysis, including the chi-square test with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05, was conducted to evaluate correlations between variables. Results: The study revealed that a significant proportion of the investigated academics exhibited higher-than-recommended average total cholesterol levels (202.57 mg/dl), with lower cardiovascular risk being the predominant category. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant correlation between cardiovascular risk levels and the profession of educators at the Faculty of Health Sciences in labour duality demonstrated a greater disparity between low and moderate cardiovascular risk levels compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of a statistically significant association between cardiovascular risk levels and the occupation of educators at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The findings underscore the importance of further research and targeted interventions to mitigate cardiovascular risks among this workforce demographic.