CARDIOVASCULAR RISK PREDICTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME AND EMERGING SERUM MARKERS IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

Occupational injuries in workers of a Spanish bank

BACKGROUND

In 2017, 69 108 work-related traffic injuries with medical leave were documented, constituting 12% of all occupational injuries (OI) in Spain.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to describe OI within a Spanish bank company during 2017.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the company's mandatory OI records, presenting data in both absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies. The chi-square test was employed for comparisons.

RESULTS

Among the company's 10 399 employees, 176 OI cases were recorded. Most were minor musculoskeletal incidents, with one severe myocardial infarction and one mild anxiety episode. Lower limb injuries were the most prevalent. Injuries of the trunk (P < 0.001), neck (P < 0.05), and upper limbs (P < 0.001) were linked to workplace factors. Approximately 62% of OI occurred outside the workplace and resulted in more extended medical leave (P < 0.01). Traffic-related injuries accounted for 39% of OI cases and caused 49% of days lost due to OI (P < 0.001).Female gender (P < 0.001) and age over 40 years (P < 0.05) were significantly associated with OI.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, musculoskeletal injuries were the most common, with a single cardiovascular event being the most severe. OI occurring outside the workplace was more frequent and led to longer medical leaves. Notably, traffic-related injuries were especially significant, exceeding official statistics 4-fold.

Are Gujarati Asian Indians 'older' for their 'vascular age' as compared to their 'Chronological age'?

BACKGROUND

South Asians are known to carry higher burden of cardiovascular diseases when compared with their Caucasian counterparts.

AIM

This study was designed to evaluate whether vascular age is advanced for Gujarati Asian Indians as matched to their chronological age in apparently healthy, asymptomatic population. We have also assessed the contributing risk factors for premature vascular ageing.

DESIGN

It was cross-sectional study of 2483 individuals of Gujarat state in Western India having no past or present history of major illness including cardiovascular diseases.

METHOD

The vascular age of the population was calculated using Framingham vascular age calculator. A relationship between risk factor prevalence and vascular ageing was evaluated using univariate analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The mean chronological age of the study population was 46.8 (±10.35) years whereas mean vascular age was 53.34 (±16.05) years, and the difference (6.54±9.5) between both was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Contributory risk factors for advanced vascular age apart from chronological age (75.4%) and male gender (66.2%) were the presence of dyslipidemia (60.4%) hypertension (57.34%) and increased waist circumference (WC) (male 39.7%, female 29%). Results of regression analysis showed that vascular age progression was highly associated with blood pressure (19.9, 95% CI: 14.34-27.63), followed by smoking (15.23, 95% CI: 8.4-27.59), and blood sugar (12.97, 95% CI: 3.48-48.25).

CONCLUSION

The Gujarati Asian Indians are subjected to premature vascular ageing and henceforth routine screening for vascular age and risk factors prevalence is strongly advocated in this ethnic group.