Purpose: The work nature of nurses and the associated lifestyle changes put them at high risk of
developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of
NCD risk factors among nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry and to determine the
associated factors among nurses.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among all nurses (N ¼ 1217) in the tertiary care hospital
aged between 21 and 60 from May 2019 to April 2020. We assessed NCDs behavioral, physical, and
biochemical risk factors using a self-administered questionnaire. The adjusted prevalence ratio was
calculated using a generalized linear regression model to determine factors associated with NCD risk
factors.
Results: The response rate was 99.0% (1217/1229), and 77.5% of the participants were women. Current
tobacco use and alcohol consumption were 1.5% (95% CI: 0.8e2.2) and 2.9% (95% CI: 2e3.9), respectively,
with significantly higher prevalence among men. Overweight or obesity (body mass index  23 kg/m2)
was 77.7%, with a significantly higher prevalence among those aged 30 and married. Prevalence of
hypertension was 14.4% (95% CI: 12.5e16.4), and diabetes mellitus was 11.5% (95% CI: 9.7e13.6). Both
were significantly higher among those aged 50 years. One-third of nurses, 34.3% (95% CI: 31.6e37.1),
had hypercholesterolemia, significantly higher among men.
Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of various NCD risk factors among the nurses. We highlight the
urgent need for initiating health promotion interventions, especially to improve intake of healthy diet
and physical activity among nurses aged 30 years.