Cardiovascular risk in petrochemical workers

Abstract

Introduction. The high prevalence of diseases of the circulatory system of workers in various sectors of the economy, the lack of data on the effects of harmful production factors on the formation of cardiovascular diseases in petrochemical industry workers justify the importance of conducting special studies on these petrochemical complex plants with the aim of assessing cardiovascular risk with the subsequent development of preventive measures. Material and methods. The objects of the study were workers in the production of monomers (ethylene, propylene, ethylbenzene, isoprene, divinyl) of petrochemical enterprises. Hygienic studies of the working conditions of workers included an assessment of the factors of the working environment and the labor process using generally accepted methods. Comprehensive clinical examination of workers included periodic examinations (n = 2634) with calculation of total and relative cardiovascular risk using the SCORE system, using questionnaire data, a Reeder L questionnaire and an in-depth clinical diagnostic medical examination (n = 101) with the definition total cardiovascular risk. Results. The most significant occupational factors of the labor process for workers in the main profession - panmen were established to include the combination of a chemical factor with the occupational noise and labor intensity, with an overall assessment of working conditions 3.2. The class of working conditions of workers of the comparison group (locksmith in instrumentation and automation corresponds to the permissible). There were revealed a high prevalence of arterial hypertension and other factors of cardiovascular risk. A higher dependence of the arterial hypertension level on age and length of service in the group of panmen was established when compared to the mechanicians of instrumentation and automation. Using mathematical models of multiple regression, the likely dynamics of the level of arterial hypertension and the left ventricular myocardial mass index were calculated under the influence of increasing age and other risk predictors. Conclusion. The results of a clinical study showed workers with severe arterial hypertension, a high and very high risk of death from cardiovascular disease on the SCORE scale, a high and very high overall cardiovascular risk, signs of dyslipidemia, obesity, high stress levels to require close attention. It is important to timely diagnose lesions of target organs, to conduct rational prevention aimed at reducing risk factors. According to the results of the study, there were developed preventive measures aimed at reducing cardiovascular morbidity and cardiovascular risk, prolonging the longevity of workers in petrochemical industries.

Analysis of occupational risk factors causing diseases of the circulatory system in medical workers: Literature review

“…Myocardial hypertrophy was detected in 18.0 % of examined workers through electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (Echo CG). Duplex ultrasound of ves-sels and main arteries in the brain revealed atherosclerotic stenotic signs in 8.0 % and non-stenotic ones in 12.2 % of examined workers; changes in brachiocephalic artery, in 5.0 % [2,4,5,7,34]. Persistent elevated blood pressure was determined in 16.8 % of workers both at day and at night through daily monitoring over blood pressure.…”

“…Diseases of the circulatory system (CSDs) hold the leading place as per prevalence and severity of complications in the structure of overall morbidity and are among major causes of disability and untimely deaths of employable population [1,2]. The most common reasons for the epidemic of cardiovascular pathology are factors related to life style such as smoking, alcohol intake, irrational and unhealthy diets, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, overweight, and hypodynamia [3,4].…”

“…Medical workers are often simultaneously exposed to several adverse occupational factors, from 4 to 7, at their workplaces [12][13][14][15][16]. Occupational activities performed by medical workers involve substantial intellectual loads, elevated requirements to capacity of operative and longterm memory as well as attention; some specialists (doctors and paramedics in emergency aid teams, surgeons) often have to work under extreme conditions in case of an emergency and it requires developing a set of preventive activities aimed at preserving their health and maintaining necessary occupational skills [2,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] 1 . CSDs prevalence among medical workers is different in various occupational groups (from 39.6 to 55.8 cases per 100 patients); however, they occupy the first rank place in the overall morbidity (25.0-27.6 %) for doctors of practically all specialties and the second or third rank place for nurses and paramedics [24].…”

“…Examination of working conditions and workers' health is accomplished according to valid regulatory documents. An evidence base for occupational risk assessment is results obtained in research works concentrating on hygienic assessment of working conditions and occupational activities as adverse factors that can cause damage to health of medical workers with various specialties employed at various healthcare organizations [1,2,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]32-41] 1, 2 .…”

“…For examples, from 18 to 20 cases of cardiovascular diseases were detected at periodical medical examinations per 100 examined workers in different city districts, municipal districts and urban settlements and this was 23.9 % in overall morbidity [22]. CSDs were diagnosed in 28 % of workers employed at oil processing and petrochemical enterprises; in 26.0 % of workers employed at chromium compounds production; and in 34.6 % of workers employed at a poultry farm [2,22,26,36,41].…”