Are healthy workers made equal to the general young to middle-aged population in Spain, a southern European country?

Relationship between plasma high-sensitivity c-reactive protein and traditional cardiovascular risk factors among active-duty military personnel in Republic of Serbia

Background/Aim. Approximately one third of individuals with no or one risk factor, as well as 40% individuals with concentraction of cholesterol less than average die from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent study underlined significant role of inflammation in atherosclerosis and its complications. Our study is the first one in Serbia which have for the aim that analyses the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with traditional risk factors for coronary heart disease. Metods: This study is observational cross-sectional study which included 205 active-duty military personnel similar socioepidemiological and economic characteristics. Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated. The relative cardiovascular risk was staged as low (hs-CRP <1mg/L), intermediate (hs-CRP between 1 and 3mg/L) and high (hs-CRP >3mg/L). The Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system was used for absolute cardiovascular risk assessment, and total risk (fatal and non-fatal events). Results: Our study included 205 participants, average age of 39 (35-43) years, with median and interquartile range values of hs-CRP 0.80 mg/L (0.43-1.75), with average hs-CRP values 0.71mg/L in the youngers than 40 years and 1.2 mg/L in the olders. Between the study groups the significant diferrence in hsCRP-a values was registrated; hs-CRP was significantly higher in the group older than 40 years ( p=0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between hsCRP and age (r=0.266, p<0.001); weight (r=0.223 p=0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.344, p<0.001), diastolic hypertension (r=0.190, p=0.007), LDL cholesterol (r=0.152, p=0.032), triglycerides (r=0.144, p=0.039), number of risk factors (r=0.210, p<0.003), as well as negative correlation with HDL cholesterol concentration (r=-0.159, p<0.023). There was no significant correlation between hsCRP concentration and total cholesterol (r=0.131, p=0.062). According to hs-CRP values, high CV risk was found in 17.7% participants older than 40 years, and based on SCORE system staging, 90% participants have intermmediate CV risk. The results of stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that BMI was independently associated with hsCRP concentration in the group younger than 40 years. Among the olders, age was found to be associated with fibrinogen values. Conclusions. In the population of active military personnel in the Republic of Serbia, hs-CRP is correlated with some of the risk factors for CVD, and only BMI is independently 4 correlated with hs-CRP in those under 40 years of age. Levels of serum hs-CRP are increased with aging, imply that hs-CRP measurement may provide a more accurate assessment of the individual overall risk profile for CVD in the Serbian military personnel population.

Patterns of change in cardiovascular risks of Korean male workers: a 10-year cohort analysis using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) 2.0 database

OBJECTIVE

Health behaviour is one of the major determinants of cardiovascular diseases in working population. This study was tried to investigate the trend of cardiovascular health level, the relationship between continuous health behaviours, and changes in the risk of cardiovascular diseases of male workers by using a nationwide database.

DESIGN

This study is a retrospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study analysed data of 57 837 male workers whose personal health examination data were continuously traced using Korea's National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort 2.0 database.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

A 10-year trend for all cardiovascular risks and change for the risks according to the consistent performance of healthy behaviours.

RESULTS

The results showed that the risk of being overweight (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.63, 95% CI 1.59 to 1.68) and obese (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.56) increased. The index of cardiovascular risk also increased for high fasting glucose (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.62 to 1.95) and high total cholesterol (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.60 to 1.76), respectively. The risks of high fasting glucose (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.13), high triglycerides (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.42) and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.66) were increased among high-risk smokers. Similarly, the risk of high total cholesterol (aOR 2.20, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.58) and high triglycerides (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.85) were increased among high-risk drinkers. In addition, the increase in the risk of being overweight (aOR 2.20, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.65) and obese (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.59 to 2.27) were analysed among who had not consistently exercised.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the pattern of change in the level of cardiovascular risk related to the continuous health behaviours of male workers was identified, the findings of the present study can be used as basic data to develop health promotion policies for the population.