Prevalence and Trends of Non-Communicable Diseases Among Healthcare Workers Aged 40 and Above: A 5-Year Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in Puducherry

Abstract

 Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading global health challenge. Healthcare workers (HCWs), pivotal to health systems, are themselves at risk due to occupational stressors and lifestyle factors. However, comprehensive data on the NCD burden among HCWs in India is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends of NCDs among HCWs aged ≥40 years at a tertiary care center in Puducherry.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using annual health check-up data from 2019 to 2024. De-identified data of 2,731 HCWs were extracted from hospital records. NCDs were defined using standard criteria: diabetes (HbA1c ≥6.5%), hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mmHg), dyslipidemia (e.g., total cholesterol >200 mg/dL), and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²). Data were analyzed using SPSS v26.0 to calculate prevalence, trends, and associations.
Results: The cohort comprised 57.7% males and 42.3% females, predominantly aged 40-49 (65.9%). High prevalence rates were observed for diabetes (24.9%), high total cholesterol (30.3%), and high triglycerides (13.9%). Male HCWs had a significantly higher burden of dysglycemia (29% vs. 19%) and dyslipidemia than females. A strong positive correlation was found between age and LDL/HDL levels. Notably, 78.7% of the cohort had at least one abnormal component of metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: A high burden of NCDs exists among healthcare workers, with significant gender and age-related disparities. These findings underscore an urgent need for institutional workplace health programs focused on screening, lifestyle modification, and tailored interventions to safeguard this critical workforce and ensure a resilient healthcare system.

KEYWORDS
Non-communicable diseases, Healthcare workers, Prevalence, Diabetes mellitus, Dyslipidemia, Metabolic syndrome, Occupational health, India.