Sains Malaysiana 43(8)(2014): 1165–1174

Metabolic Risk Factors among Government Employees in Putrajaya, Malaysia

(Faktor Risiko Metabolik dalam Kalangan Kakitangan Kerajaan di Putrajaya, Malaysia)

CHEE, H.P¹., HAZIZI, A.S.^1,2*, BARAKATUN NISAK, M.Y.¹ & MOHD NASIR, M.T.¹

¹Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Sports Academy, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

Received: 28 October 2013/Accepted: 10 December 2013

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the metabolic risk factors among government employees in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Government employees (n=675) were recruited from five government agencies in Putrajaya using a multi-stage random sampling method. Data on socio demographic characteristics, stages of change for physical activity, anthropometric and biochemical and clinical examinations were collected. A total of 154 (23.4%) men and 505 (76.6%) women with the mean age of 34.49±8.80 years participated in this study. The number of government employees that met the metabolic syndrome criteria based on a 'Harmonized' definition (48.9%) was higher than that in the general Malaysian population. High blood pressure was higher in men (56.5%) compared to women (39.8%). The male participants had a significantly higher mean ± standard deviation in all the metabolic risk factors except HDL-cholesterol, compared to a significance level of 0.05 in the female participants. A high proportion of government employees (84.5%) had at least one metabolic risk factor. Men were 54% more likely to have metabolic syndrome than women based on 'Harmonized' definition. Participants in the pre- contemplation stage for physical activity were approximately 17 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to participants in the maintenance stage according to 'Harmonized' definition. In general, this study suggested that a high proportion of government employees (84.5%) had at least one metabolic risk factor. There is a pressing need to commence intervention programs in the workplace to identify and manage government employees at high risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Keywords: Government employees; metabolic risk factors; workplace

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai faktor risiko metabolik dalam kalangan kakitangan kerajaan di Putrajaya, Malaysia. Kakitangan kerajaan (n=675) daripada lima agensi kerajaan di Putrajaya telah dipilih dengan menggunakan kaedah persampelan rawak berperingkat. Pengumpulan data melibatkan data sosio demografi, peringkat perubahan terhadap aktiviti fizikal, pengukuran data antropometri, biokimia dan pemeriksaan klinikal. Seramai 154 (23.4%) lelaki dan 505 (76.6%) wanita telah mengambil bahagian dalam kajian ini dengan min umur 34.49±8.80 tahun. Prevalens bagi kakitangan kerajaan yang memenuhi kriteria sindrom metabolik (48.9%) dalam kajian ini berdasarkan definisi 'Harmonized' adalah lebih tinggi berbanding penduduk Malaysia secara keseluruhan. Tekanan darah tinggi adalah lebih tinggi dalam kalangan lelaki (56.5%) berbanding dengan wanita (39.8%). Lelaki mempunyai lebih tinggi min ± sisihan piawai bagi semua faktor risiko metabolik kecuali kolesterol HDL berbanding dengan wanita pada tahap kesignifikanan 0.05. Sebahagian besar daripada kakitangan kerajaan (84.5%) mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya satu faktor risiko metabolik. Lelaki adalah 54% lebih cenderung untuk mempunyai sindrom metabolik berbanding dengan wanita berdasarkan definisi 'Harmonized'. Peserta dalam peringkat pra- pertimbangan untuk aktiviti fizikal adalah kira- kira 17 kali ganda lebih cenderung untuk mempunyai sindrom metabolik berbanding dengan peserta di peringkat berterusan mengikut definisi 'Harmonized'. Secara umumnya, kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa sebahagian besar daripada kakitangan kerajaan (84.5%) mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya satu faktor risiko metabolik. Terdapat keperluan yang mendesak untuk memulakan program intervensi di tempat kerja untuk mengenal pasti serta menguruskan kakitangan kerajaan yang berisiko tinggi untuk penyakit kardiovaskular dan diabetes pada masa akan datang.

Kata kunci: Faktor risiko metabolik; kakitangan kerajaan; tempat kerja

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*Corresponding author; email: hazizi@upm.edu.my