Prevalence of Undiagnosed Cardiovascular Risk Factors and 10-Year CVD Risk in Male Steel Industry Workers

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of undiagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a cohort of male steel workers in South Wales, UK. Methods:Male steel industry workers (n=221) with no prior diagnosis of CVD or diabetes accepted a CVD risk assessment within the work environment. Demographic, anthropometric, family and medical histories were all recorded and capillary blood samples obtained. 10-year CVD risk was predicted using the QRISK2-2012 algorithm.Results: 81.5% of workers were either overweight or obese. >20% of workers were found to have diastolic hypertension, high total cholesterol and/or a TC:HDL ratio ≥6. Over one quarter of workers assessed had an increased 10-year CVD risk. Conclusions:Despite a physically demanding occupation, risk assessment in the workplace uncovered significant occult factors in CVD risk in a sample of male heavy industry workers.

Health Profile of Construction Workers in Hong Kong

“…According to a healthcare survey among 22,041 patients in Hong Kong between 2014 and 2015, almost 50% of them exceeded the healthy score for cholesterol [42]. The current findings, which show the percentage of the construction workforce with hypertension (39.8%) and elevated cholesterol concentrations (38.4%), are similar to those of the previous studies [43]. Gary et al (2014) examined the health condition of steel workers in the United Kingdom and manifested that 40.7%, 15.8%, and 32.1% of the workers exceed the threshold of cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure respectively [43].…”

Worksite Prevalence of (un)Diagnosed Cardiovascular Risk Factors From a Health-Check-Program in An Austrian Company

“…Of interest, more than one in eight employees suffered from diagnosed hypertension. Of the available data, almost half of the participants demonstrated increased BP levels, and therefore could be characterized as hypertensive individuals, which is in accordance to the study of Gray et al 11 Furthermore, about tenths of the previously diagnosed hypertensive participants and despite medical treatment showed high BP levels than the recommended target, which could be assumed as poorly controlled hypertension.…”

“…9 Regarding workplace, employees are supposed to be a hardto-reach population 10 as they are quite incapable to participate in primary care services during the working day and they may not be willing to spend their leisure time for this. 11 The workplace also provides an attractive opportunity because numerous adults of different socioeconomic statuses and lifestyles can be targeted at once. 12 Consequently, a workplace health promotion program has potential benefits to employees (better individual health) and the employer (better occupational health and productivity).…”

“…12 Consequently, a workplace health promotion program has potential benefits to employees (better individual health) and the employer (better occupational health and productivity). 11 This investigation aims to assess the prevalence of CVD risk factors and in particular undiagnosed ones in a cohort of workers who participated in a health-check-program at their workplace and to estimate the 10-year CVD risk using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS).…”

Cardiorespiratory fitness is a stronger indicator of cardiometabolic risk factors and risk prediction than self-reported physical activity levels

“…8 However, emerging research has highlighted a substantial prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in males employed within the industrial sector, [9][10][11] in occupations typically perceived to be 'physically active'.…”