Cardiovascular diseases in workers at risk
Sancini, A.; Caciari, T.; De Sio, S.; Fiaschetti, M.; Di Giorgio, V.; Samperi, I.; Gioffrè, P.; Giubilati, R.; Vitarelli, A.; Tomei, G.; Tomei, F.
Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro Ed Ergonomia 32(4 Suppl): 163-165
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1592-7830 PMID: 21438249 Document Number: 645585
Our research group has conducted several studies to investigate the effects of occupational risks on the cardiovascular system of exposed workers. In these studies, groups of workers exposed to possible professional cardiovascular risk factors were compared with controls with respect to some parameters (blood pressure, ECG, etc.). The groups were made comparable by age, length of service, traditional cardiovascular risk factors and possible confounding factors outside work. Four studies investigated the effects of noise exposure, three studies the effects of exposure to urban stressors, other studies the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors in various occupational categories (manual workers, agricultural workers, workers exposed to ionizing radiation, workers in rotogravure factory). The results of our studies confirm the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in various professions and the consequent need to take develop preventive strategies in workplaces to prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases associated with these risk factors.