At least six per cent of Spanish workers suffer from cardiovascular problems – eight per cent of men and two per cent of men, according to an Ibermutuamur Cardiovascular Risk Assessment (ICARIA) Study. This prevalence increases with age in both sexes, and is highest in the farming sector, followed by construction, industry and services.
“In Spain, approximately one million workers have a high level of cardiovascular risk, but only a minority of these people classify themselves as at risk,” Miguel Ángel Sánchez Chaparro, coordinator of the ICARIA study and a researcher at the University of Malaga (UMA), tells SINC. “These figures show that most of them are probably unaware of their risk level.”
The study, published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, reveals that 6% of workers have high overall cardiovascular risk (8% of men and 2% of women), while for 1% the risk is moderate. In addition, the prevalence of high risk increases with age in both sexes, and is highest in the farming sector, followed by construction, industry and services.
The ICARIA study is the first piece of research to establish this risk in all of Spain’s autonomous regions, industrial sectors and jobs. It was carried out between May 2004 and June 2005 among more than 300,000 apparently healthy workers, with an average age of 36.
Among other conclusions, the study indicates a higher prevalence of high cardiovascular risk among blue collar workers than in white collar workers, in both sexes.
“The differences we found are related to the greater prevalence of risk factors in these sectors of activity and could help to set priorities for prevention,” says Sánchez Chaparro.
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The importance of examinations
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“The number of workers taking part in these annual checks provides a unique opportunity for acting to prevent cardiovascular disease”, Eva Calvo Bonacho, co-author of the study and head of the Healthcare Projects Department at Ibermutuamur comments. “The results obtained will allow preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative and individual monitoring recommendations to be made.”
Source-Medindia