Cardiovascular Risk Factors of Working Primary School Teachers

Abstract

In Hungary about 77000 people work as teachers in primary school. Generally, stressful work negatively affects health and can increase risk of noncommunicable diseases. Previous research revealed that teachers have better physical health status compared to the general population (Seibt 2011). Health status is often assessed using questionnaires, and as a result, there is a lack of research using objective measures of health in primary school teachers. PURPOSE:To collect data about health status, body composition, blood pressure and arterial stiffness in primary school teachers and compare some results to the EHIS study results reported in 2014. The participants involved were over 35 years of age and had more than ten years’ experience as school teachers. METHODS:24 subjects (mean age: 46.8±7.4y.) were recruited from different primary schools using the snowball research method (Kalton2001). Data collected included body mass index (BMI) and body composition (BF%), information from a health behaviour questionnaire (eating habits, physical activity, smoking) (WHO 2010) and resting arterial stiffness measured via TensioMed arteriography (Illyés 2005). Descriptive statistical analysis and Chi square tests were used with SPSS Statistics program version 22. RESULTS:The mean BMI was 26.9±5.5 and BF% was 26.9±6.5 in teachers, 50% were overweight or obese. According to the questionnaire 62% of the teachers ate breakfast regularly and only 20% were physically active ≥ 2.5h/week, 20% smoked, 22% had elevated blood pressure and 20% had elevated pulse wave velocity or augmentation index (Willum-Hansen et al. 2006). Compared to data from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) (www.ksh.hu/docs/hun/xftp/stattukor/elef14.pdf) teachers in this study were the same active (4.1%vs.4.5%) and were the same overweight and obese (50%vs.54%) as Hungarians in the general population. The prevalence of smoking among teachers was significantly (p<0.05) less (20%) than the general population (29%). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the investigated middle-aged teachers already had some health problems. The health-related concepts and mental health programs for teachers are essential to prevent chronic diseases and psychosomatic disorders.