Behind hypertension in white-coat heroes: a cross-sectional study exploring the link between burnout, occupational factors with hypertension in Kinshasa’s healthcare workers, Democratic Republic of Congo

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BACKGROUND: Hypertension remains a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Unfavorable working conditions may lead to detrimental effects on employees’ health and work well-being. Healthcare workers are often exposed to sustained high stress levels due to the demands of their occupation, making them more susceptible to burnout. Despite their commitment to caring for others, their health can also be compromised. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among healthcare workers in Kinshasa, focusing on occupational factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a structured questionnaire based on the modified WHO STEPwise and Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel among healthcare workers selected via multistage stratified random sampling in Kinshasa’s hospitals from December 2023 to January 2024. Weight, height, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar were measured. The prevalence of hypertension was determined. All associated variables with hypertension were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis at the 5% significance level. RESULTS: Of 566 healthcare workers enrolled in the study, 55.0% were female and 45.0% were male, with a mean age of 39.0 ± 10.4 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 23.3% (95% CI: 19.9–27.0), with 57.6% (95% CI: 48.7–66.1) of hypertensive participants unaware of their diagnosis at the time of data collection. In the multivariable analysis, the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with hypertension were age ≥ 40 years (aOR = 3.48, 95% CI: 2.02–5.98), physical inactivity (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.02–2.80), being overweight (aOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.05–3.06), and being obese (aOR = 3.80, 95% CI: 2.06–7.01). Regarding occupational factors, seniority ≥ 10 years (aOR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.94-6.00), night shift work (aOR = 5.00, 95% CI: 2.85–8.78), and burnout syndrome (aOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.23–3.31) were associated with hypertension. CONCLUSION: Beyond lifestyle, occupational conditions contribute to hypertension among HCWs. Addressing hypertension requires tackling both lifestyle behaviors and modifiable work-related factors. Integrating healthy practices such as regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and routine blood pressure monitoring with structured shift schedules, stress management programs, and supportive workplace environments can protect cardiovascular health, prevent burnout, and strengthen HCWs’ efficiency and patient care quality.

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