Risk factors of prehypertension and hypertension among workers at public elderly welfare facilities in Taiwan: A cross-sectional survey

The prevalence and factors that influence prehypertension and hypertension in workers at elderly welfare facilities remain unknown. This study investigated prehypertension and hypertension as well as the relevant factors affecting the development of these conditions in workers at elderly welfare facilities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 242 workers at 3 elderly welfare facilities in northern Taiwan. A structured questionnaire survey comprising demographic characteristics, job characteristics, burnout inventory, and health information was employed for data collection. Chi-Squared tests and multinomial logistic regression were adopted to analyze the correlation between research variables and blood pressures as well as relevant factors influencing prehypertension and hypertension. The results indicated that sex, age, education level, type of work shift, work-related burnout, and body mass index of the research participants were significantly correlated with prehypertension and hypertension. The results of multinominal logistic regression demonstrated that being male, being older, being a nonnurse assistant, being obese, working in shifts, and having moderate or severe work-related burnout were associated with higher risks of prehypertension and hypertension. The interaction between age and being a nonnurse assistant was statistically significant. Compared with nonnurse assistants, nurse assistants aged ≥55 years had a relatively low risk of prehypertension and hypertension. Age, job characteristics, work-related burnout, and obesity of workers in elderly welfare facilities were the major risk factors for prehypertension and hypertension.