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Cardio‐metabolic risk and lifestyle behaviours among police officers in Trinidad and Tobago
Author(s) -
Prout Patrice,
Nichols Selby
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.lb396
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , waist , anthropometry , body mass index , obesity , demography , odds ratio , marital status , environmental health , population , sociology
Objectives To evaluate cardio‐metabolic risk among police officers. Design and Methodology This cross‐sectional study was conducted among law enforcement officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services. Four jurisdictions were randomly selected and officers invited to participate. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, lean muscle mass, visceral fat and percentage body fat) were obtained using standard procedures. Participation in the study was voluntary. Ethical approval was granted by the Senior Superintendent on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. Results Four hundred (Females n= 138; Males n= 262) officers participated in the study. Male officers were more likely to have elevated systolic blood pressures than female counterparts (p <0.001). In partial correlation analyses controlling for age, ethnicity, education level and marital status; obesity was associated with an increased likelihood of elevated systolic blood pressure (> 140mmHg) (Odds ratio (OR) =3.82, 95%(CI): 2.92, 5.49; p<0.01); elevated diastolic blood pressure (> 90 mmHg) (OR= 3.89; 95% CI 2.88, 5.88; p<0.01); vegetables <2 servings per day (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.14; p= 0.015); red meat intake > 4 times per week (OR= 2.0, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.36; p=0.04); soda intake > 48 ounces per week (OR = 1.9, 95% CI:1.26, 2.88: p=0.002); participation in non occupational physical activity < 3 times per week (OR =4.70, 95% CI: 3.00, 10.86; p = 0.001). Conclusion The results indicated that poor dietary practices and physical activity among police officers are associated with cardio‐metabolic risk as indexed by blood pressure and obesity.