Assessment of Total Cardiovascular Risk as a Part of Repeated Medical Examination of Employees of a Large Industrial Enterprise

Abstract

Aim. To compare the associations between employees’ health groups, defined by the results of the repeated medical examination (RME), and conventional risk factors (RFs) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or total CVD risk; to justify the need for RME and identify the priorities for its further improvement, in order to prevent CVD among working populations.Material and methods. The study was performed as a part of a regulation-required RME, at a medical unit serving employees of a large industrial enterprise. A standard examination was combined with the assessment of such CVD RFs as tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, and body mass index.Results. The RME data were analysed for 3013 employees (51,8% men and 48,2% women). Mean age of the participants was 45,8±12,5 years (44,8±13,6 years in men and 46,9±11,2 years in women; p0,05); Health Group III to 27,3% (26,0% of men and 28,8% of women; p>0,05); and Health Group IV to 0,3% of both men and women (p>0,05). No participants were assigned Health Group V. The study demonstrated feasibility of an extended medical examination without substantial extra costs. This justifies the inclusion of early CVD RF detection and correction in the RME programme for working populations. Among working-age employees with Health Group I, more than one-third (37,4%) had moderate levels of total CVD risk. Among older age groups, 90% and 10% had moderate and high total CVD risk, respectively.Conclusion. The results of this analysis can be used for identification of prevention priorities, both for workplace-based and medical unit-based prevention among working populations, as well as for assessment and distribution of the resources required.