Cardiovascular Manifestations Among Workers in Meat Production Exposed to Cold Environment

Abstract

Introduction: Several mechanisms were suggested to describe the relationship between cold exposure and coronary heart disease (CHD). Aim of the work: Our aim is studying the prevalence of cardiovascular manifestations encountered in cold exposure and, to investigate some of the hemodynamic variables that affect the biochemical parameters especially the coagulation and the lipid profile. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 81 subjects in one of the leading factories in meat production in Egypt and twenty subjects as control group. All the personnel were subjected to a full history taking with special questionnaire, clinical examination, and investigations involving, complete blood picture, bleeding time, plasma fibrinogen, plasma thrombin, clotting time, cryoglobulin, complete lipid profile, resting ECG and Rt.upper limb Colored Doppler. Results: Clinical examination showed significant prevalence in chest manifestations which was (42.2%), cardiac (47.5%) and Peripheral vascular manifestations (37.7%) among the exposed group. Investigations revealed low Hemoglobin, low platelet, low bleeding time and higher total cholesterol level among the studied groups. Cryoglobulins showed one positive case among the exposed subjects. There was a prevalence of abnormal ECG findings in 28% of the exposed group. Colored Doppler showed complete normal findings among the exposed subjects. Conclusions and Recommendations:We concluded that exposure to cold environment during work puts the workers in a serious risk of having clinical manifestations' changes and altered biochemical parameters in which it can lead to serious pathological disturbances. Preplacement and Periodic medical examination are recommended. Using personnel protective equipments (PPE), exposure limits schedules and establishing the work place according to the international standards of occupational health and safety is highly recommended to minimize the exposure effects.