Absenteeism Due to Mental Disorders in Agents Fighting Endemic Diseases in Ceará/Northeast Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to quantify the days away from work by mental disorders (MDs) in endemic fighting agents (EFAs) in the state in Northeast Brazil.

METHODS

This is a historical cohort carried out from the survey of 584 expert medical records of EFA. The association measures were performed using Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

The days away from work increased over time. Endemic fighting agents who have been on sick leaves by mood disorders ([cumulative incidence like relative risk (IRR)], 21.37; 95% CI, 12.36-36.93), alcoholism (IRR, 17.12; 95% CI, 10.04-29.34), and stress-related disorders (IRR, 10.32; 95% CI, 6.05-17.63) have a higher risk of absenteeism longer than 15 days.

CONCLUSION

This study reinforces the importance of actions for coping with MD in EFA.

Global burden of mental illness in agents fighting endemics

Abstract: Mental disorders are the main cause of the young and economically active population worldwide and in Brazil to live with disabilities, being an important public health problem nowadays. The objective was to estimate the burden of mental disorders among professionals working to combat endemic diseases in a state in northeastern Brazil. Medical records of workers linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Health in Ceará State and fighting endemic diseases were surveyed and, from this, a historical cohort was made. The individual quantification of absenteeism by mental disorders (ICD F-chapter referring to mental disorders) was conducted considering a period of about 35 years, from admission (the 1980s) to December 2017. The global burden of disease was measured by the YLD indicator (years lost to disability). Considering that no deaths due to mental disorders were observed, the YLL indicator (years of life lost) was composed. The high mental disorders burden in this group of workers stands out, whose mood disorders, including depression, conferred a YLD equal to 18.6. This represents just over 18 years of work lived with a disability. Our findings reinforce the need to implement surveillance and health promotion actions in workers to promote effective interventions capable of contributing to the reduction of morbidity in workers and economically active people.

Burden and Protection: Heterogeneous Effects of Occupational and Operational Stressors on Burnout Dimensions Among Firefighters

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between occupational stressors and Burnout dimensions among Brazilian firefighters.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study about firefighters (n = 237) was developed in Fortaleza, Northeast of Brazil. Logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate the association between high strain (high demand and low job control), low social support, high operational exposure, and Burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment).

RESULTS

High strain was associated to emotional exhaustion (odds ratio [OR] = 11.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.92 to 34.60) and depersonalization (OR = 5.43; 95% CI: 2.03 to 14.58). Low social support was associated to emotional exhaustion (OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.24 to 6.60) and low personal accomplishment (OR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.36 to 4.93). High operational exposure did not increase the odds of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and decreased the odds of low personal accomplishment (OR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.94).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the heterogeneous effects that operational and organisational stressors have on each dimension of Burnout.

Exposure to Chemical and Biological Agents at Work and Cardiovascular Disease in Brazil: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

Investigating the relationship between exposure to chemical and biological agents at work and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in a Brazilian national health survey.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using the database of 36.442 participants from the Brazilian National Health Survey. Logistic Regression analysis was performed for multivariable models.

RESULTS

After adjustments for key confounders, we observed that those individuals exposed to chemical agents and biological materials at work had 62% (95% CI: 1.20; 2.20) and 66% (95% CI: 1.03; 2.65), respectively, higher odds of having cardiovascular disease compared to employed individuals who did not report exposure to biological materials/chemical agents at work.

CONCLUSION

This study draws attention to the role of chemical and biological risks in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. In this sense, it is necessary developing systematic and intersectoral actions for Workers' Health Surveillance to promote health and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases.