Relationship of Characteristics, Lifestyle and Exposure of Carbon Monoxide with Blood Pressure of Motorcycle Repair Shop Mechanics at Medan City in 2020

Abstract

High blood pressure is a condition where the systolic blood pressure is >140 mmHg and diastolic >90 mmHg. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The factors that cause hypertension are genetics, age, obesity, lifestyle, stress, and food consumption patterns. Continuous exposure to carbon monoxide gas at high concentrations can also cause an increase in blood pressure. This study aims to analyze the relationship of characteristics, lifestyle, and exposure of carbon monoxide with blood pressure of motorcycle repair shop mechanics at Medan City. This study is an observational study using a cross-sectional design. This research was conducted at 12 workshops in 6 sub-districts in Medan City. The sample in this study amounted to 70 mechanics. Carbon monoxide exposure data were calculated using the intake formula in the ARKL study. Mechanical blood pressure data were obtained by direct measurement twice with an interval of five minutes using a sphygmomanometer. Data analysis using bivariate test. The results showed that 54.3 percent of mechanics had high blood pressure and there was one workshop that had a CO concentration in the air that exceeded the quality standard value, namely 31,329.2 μg/Nm3. There was a significant relationship between a history of hypertension (p=0.005), smoking habits (p=0.001), physical activity (p=0.006), and sodium intake (p=0.015) with blood pressure. There was no significant relationship between exposure of carbon monoxide and systolic pressure (p=0.067) and diastolic (p=0.606). Mechanics should be able to change and control risky lifestyles by increasing physical activity, controlling cigarette consumption, reducing sodium consumption, routinely going to health services and taking hypertension drugs for mechanics who have high blood pressure.