[A profile of workers' health in an olefins plant in the Venezuelan state of Zulia]

Instituto de Medicina del Trabajo e Higiene Industrial, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: Determining the profile of health for people working in an olefin plant. METHODS: This was an observational, descriptive study carried out on 142 workers from technical-administrative, operator and maintenance areas. Each worker's employment and medical history was examined; they had a physical examination and laboratory, audiometric and visual tests. The degree of obesity was determined by WHO classification; cardiovascular risk was classified by using the European Societies' risk table. RESULTS: The workers had a mean age of 36,2+/-6,9. The operators presented mean weight and systolic pressure which was higher than that of the rest of the workers. A high risk factor frequency was determined for cardiovascular pathologies: alcohol consumption (89,4 %), obesity (62,7 %), hypertriglycerides in the blood (46,5 %) and high systolic pressure (45,1 %); operators were the most affected workers. A moderate frequency of workers having altered hepatic enzymes, AST (38 %) and GGT (29,6 %) were observed The most frequently encountered pathologies were ametropia (64,1 %), dyslipidaemia (57,8 %), obesity (50 %) and hypertension (45,1 %). Workers aged more than 40 presented higher systolic pressure. A significant correlation between IMC and systolic pressure was found. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was found. Health-care should be designed and promoted and action should be taken towards modifying lifestyles, aimed at reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

PMID: 18368224 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]