Work ability and anthropometric indices correlate with cardiovascular risk factors in public sector employees: Cross‐sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Understanding the correlation of work ability (WA) and anthropometric indices with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors among public sector employees (PSE) is vital for policy direction. This study examined the correlation between work ability, anthropometric indices, and cardiovascular risk factors among PSEs. METHODS: The cross‐sectional study had 254 (mean age = 37.18 ± 10.34) PSE. A self‐reported WA index was used to measure WA. Blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat were measured. Lifestyle CVDs risk history was also obtained. RESULTS: 3.9% had moderate, 51.2% good, and 44.9% excellent WA. 37.4% overweight, 20.1% obese, 19.7% hypertension history, 67.7% no physical activity history. WA correlates with increased systolic BP, BMI, WC, WHR, weight to height ratio, and visceral fat significantly. Age 24−29 (aOR = 26.38), 30‐39 (aOR = 7.52), and 40‐49 (aOR = 4.94) independently predict excellent WA. Overweight (aOR = 0.44) independently predict decreased excellent WA. CONCLUSION: Participants were hypertension‐prone, had increased WC, WHR, physically inactive, overweight, and obese. WA and anthropometric indices of the participants predict CVDs risks. Workplace health care strategy should be put in place to control BP, BMI, WC, WHR, weight to height ratio, and visceral fat as CVDs risk factors.