Work stress, dietary patterns, and physical activity on metabolic and hepatic biomarkers among healthcare professionals in Ghana.

Daniel Ayeltigah, Nancy Gyima Wuabu, Mary Amoako, Moses Ofosu Amoako, Collins Afriyie Appiah

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Association Between Dietary Patterns, Work Stress, Physical Activity, and Cardiometabolic Markers Among University Workers in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Daniel AyeltigahDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Nancy Gyima WuabuDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Mary AmoakoDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. madjepong2020@gmail.com.

Moses Ofosu AmoakoFamily Medicine Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

Collins Afriyie AppiahDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study investigated the association between lifestyle exposures (work stress, dietary patterns, and physical activity) and metabolic and hepatic biomarkers among healthcare professionals in Ghana.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 119 participants at the Kibi Government Hospital. The survey included demographic and lifestyle questionnaires, work stress assessments, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical analyses. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Binary logistic regression models were applied to determine the associations.

resultsThe prevalence of MetS was 11.0%, with high blood pressure (29.7%) and abdominal obesity (57.1%) being the most prevalent MetS components. The majority of participants reported high stress levels (60.4%), and 59.7% engaged in moderate physical activity. Approximately 65.3% had AST/ALT greater than 1. Four dietary patterns were identified: Western Pattern, Traditional mixed pattern, Protein-rich pattern, and Fruit and Dairy pattern. Moderate and high adherence to the Western dietary pattern were significantly associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity (Tertile 2: OR 3.244, 95% CI 1.219-8.629, p-value 0.018, Tertile 3: OR 4.231, 95% CI 1.550-11.546, p-value 0.005). A non-significant association was also observed between elevated triglycerides and ALT (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.998-1.05, p = 0.066).

conclusionThis study highlights a considerable burden of metabolic risk factors among hospital staff in Ghana, with abdominal obesity and elevated blood pressure being the most prevalent components of metabolic syndrome. High work stress levels, moderate physical activity, and elevated AST/ALT ratios (indicating a predominance of hepatocellular injury and suggesting potential liver dysfunction) were also common. Greater adherence to the western dietary pattern was significantly associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity while marginal association was observed between elevated triglycerides and ALT. These findings highlight the need for regular screening for metabolic risk factors and liver function among health professionals. Healthcare institutions should introduce targeted interventions such as nutrition education and improved access to healthy food options to prevent related complications such as liver cirrhosis and diabetes.

Indexed as

DietExerciseHealth PersonnelMetabolic SyndromeOccupational StressAdultBiomarkersCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGhanaHumansHypertensionLife StyleLiverMaleMiddle AgedBiomarkersDietary patternHepatic biomarkersMetabolic syndromePhysical activityWork stress

Identifiers

PMID42152142

DOI10.1186/s41043-026-01344-4

PMCPMC13386725

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.