Prevalence and Predictors of Hypertension Among Police Personnel in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is a prevalent chronic cardiovascular condition affecting a substantial portion of the global population. It is a multi-factorial disease condition influenced by the interplay of environmental and genetic factors. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of hypertension among police personnel in Port Harcourt Metropolis. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 394 police officers from different police divisions. Data was collected with questionnaire. Blood pressure (Hypertension: ≥ 140/90 mmHg), height and weight were measured. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were deployed. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-tests were utilized to ascertain the association between the study variables and hypertension. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of hypertension. Results: 49.7% of police personnel were found to be hypertensive. Dietary habits and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with hypertension (p > 0.05). However, being a current smoker, perceived stress and high body mass index were significantly associated with hypertension. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that duration of service, perceived stress, high body mass index and being male were independent predictors of hypertension. Conclusion: Hypertension is highly prevalent among police officers in our locality. Identified predictors are long duration of service, perceived stress, high BMI and being male. Targeted interventions based on the elucidated predictors of hypertension among this occupational group would be necessary to ensure that police personnel are healthy.