Diabetes, obesity and non-optimum blood pressure levels in a group of employees of the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, 2003

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of diabetes, obesity and non-optimum blood pressure levels in a group of employees of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus that participated in a diabetes health fair at the [quot ]Centro de Diabetes para Puerto Rico[quot ]. METHODS: A total of 113 participants of the diabetes health fair completed a questionnaire to obtain demographic characteristics and the frequency of self-reported diabetes. The nursing staff examined the participants in order to obtain the following clinical characteristics body mass index, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. RESULTS: The proportion of self-reported diabetes, obesity (> or = 30 kg/m2) and non-optimum blood pressure levels (systolic > or = 20 mm/Hg or diastolic > or = 80 mm/Hg) were 15.4(95CI 8.5- 25.7), 80.0(95CI 70.8-86.9) and 70.5(95CI 61.1-78.6), respectively. Although it was not statistically significant, diabetes was higher among females (15.4) compared to males (12.0). All participants with self-reported diabetes were overweight or obese, and 91.7showed non-optimum blood pressure levels. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between blood pressure levels and body mass index (r = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of persons with diabetes, obesity, and non-optimum blood pressure levels in this sample of Medical Sciences Campus employees underscores the need for confirming these results in a larger study and developing strategies focused on reducing health risks in this population.