Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases at Baseline and Their Short-Term Changes in a Workplace Cohort in Singapore

• Main Authors: Thirunavukkarasu Sathish, Gerard Dunleavy, Michael Soljak, Nanthini Visvalingam, Nuraini Nazeha, Ushashree Divakar, Ram Bajpai, Thuan-Quoc Thach, Kei L Cheung, Hein de Vries, Chee-Kiong Soh, Georgios Christopoulos, Josip Car
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-11-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: cohort study; workplace; chronic disease; risk factors; singapore
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/22/4551

We aimed to examine the behavioural and clinical risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at baseline and their changes over 12 months in a workplace cohort in Singapore. A total of 464 full-time employees (age ≥ 21 years) were recruited from a variety of occupational settings, including offices, control rooms, and workshops. Of these, 424 (91.4%) were followed-up at three months and 334 (72.0%) were followed up at 12 months. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect data on health behaviours and clinical measurements were performed by trained staff using standard instruments and protocols. Age-adjusted changes in risk factors over time were examined using generalized estimating equations or linear mixed-effects models where appropriate. The mean age of the participants at baseline was 39.0 (SD: 11.4) years and 79.5% were men. Nearly a quarter (24.4%) were current smokers, slightly more than half (53.5%) were alcohol drinkers, two-thirds (66%) were consuming &lt;5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, and 23.1% were physically inactive. More than two-thirds (67%) were overweight or obese and 34.5% had central obesity. The mean follow-up was 8.6 months. After adjusting for age, over 12 months, there was a significant increase in the proportion consuming &lt;5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day by 33% (<i>p</i> = 0.030), who were physically inactive by 64% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and of overweight or obese people by 15% (<i>p</i> = 0.018). The burden of several key NCD risk factors at baseline was high and some worsened within a short period of time in this working population. There is a need for more targeted strategies for behaviour change towards a healthy lifestyle as part of the ongoing health and wellness programs at workplaces in Singapore.