SERUM LIPID PROFILE AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISK INDICATORS AMONG BLUE AND WHITECOLLAR WORKERS

Abstract

Introduction: Worksite health risk screening is a useful method for the surveillance of health risk indicators (HRIs) for chronic diseases, which, according to the World Health Organization, have a rising trend, particularly in less developed countries like Egypt. Aim of Work: To measure the frequency and possible association between abnormalities in the serum lipid profile, HRIs, and occupational class (blue-collar vs. white-collar jobs) among Egyptian workers. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 526 blue-collar workers and 114 white-collar workers who underwent medical examination at Alexandria University, Faculty of Medicine’s Occupational Medicine Unit were reviewed to obtain data about smoking, physical activity, perceived health, occupational class, shift work, blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile results. Multivariate logistic regression was done to model abnormalities in the lipid profile as a function of potential HRI. Results: Smoking and physical inactivity were associated with blue-collar jobs, while perceived poor health was associated with white-collar jobs .No relation was found between occupational class and abnormalities in lipid profile, hypertension, or anthropometric indicators. Shift work, hypertension and obesity were independently associated with lipid profile abnormalities. Workers with high levels of triglycerides were 1.6 times more likely to be shift workers and workers with suboptimal levels of HDL-C were two times more likely to be shift workers. The odds of high triglycerides and cholesterol levels were 1.8 and 1.7 times higher in hypertensive workers compared with normotensive workers. Obesity was associated with suboptimal HDL-C levels. Conclusion and Recommendations: The current study revealed an association between occupational class and smoking, physical inactivity, and health perception, but not with serum lipid profile abnormalities. Worksite intervention planning targeting obese, hypertensive, and shift workers is advised. Targeting blue-collar workers with smoking cessation and fitness programs is also recommended