Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background Hypertension is the leading modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, and its burden is rising across urban South Asia. Government officers in desk-based roles are a large but understudied occupational group. This study assessed the prevalence, awareness, and associated factors of hypertension, alongside physical-activity patterns and non-communicable disease (NCD) risk-factor clustering, among civil-service officers in Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 283 officers from four government offices were assessed using the WHO STEPS framework and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Presence of hypertension was defined as elevated blood pressure on measurement and/or a prior physician diagnosis. Associated factors were examined by modified Poisson regression estimating prevalence ratios, risk-factor clustering was modelled by binomial regression. Results Hypertension prevalence was 41.7% (118/283), of whom only 50.8% were previously aware. Overweight/obesity was present in 52.3% of participants and low physical activity in 43.1%. In the parsimonious model, hypertension was independently associated with age 40–49 years (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] 2.38, 95% CI 1.73–3.28), age ≥ 50 years (APR 2.24, 95% CI 1.58–3.18), and overweight/obesity (APR 1.74, 95% CI 1.31–2.32; all p < 0.001). Gazetted officers were more sedentary than non-gazetted officers (7.08 vs. 6.42 hours/day; p = 0.009), though hypertension prevalence did not differ significantly by grade. Male and Janajati ethnic group officers carried significantly greater NCD risk-factor clustering burdens (adjusted count ratios 1.34 and 1.21, respectively; both p < 0.001). Conclusion Kathmandu’s civil servants bear a high, largely under-recognised hypertension burden driven by age and adiposity, warranting workplace screening and targeted, grade-sensitive risk-factor interventions.</p>