International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health最新文献

Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are persistent problem in contemporary in-hospital patients' treatment but they are recognized as potentially preventable. The influence of HAI on patients' outcomes after discharge is not fully acknowledged. The authors conducted the study to determine the associations between HAI and length of hospitalization, all-cause in-hospital death, need for treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU), and rehospitalization within 14 days, 30 days, and 365 days.

Material and methods: On the basis of inclusion criteria, 631 of 5322 (11.86%) inpatients were enrolled to the study, for whom the authors determined, among other factors, medical history, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) score, nutritional status (using anthropometric characteristics and bioelectrical impedance analysis), and Charlson Comorbidity Index score.

Results: Healthcare-associated infections occurred in 17.9% of the inpatients enrolled to the study. Healthcare-associated infections were linked with greater length of in-hospital stay (LOS), risk of in-hospital death, transfer to the ICU, and hospital readmission within 14 days and 30 days. In multivariate analysis, HAI was the strongest risk factor for LOS prolongation, need for treatment in the ICU (OR = 15.26, 95% CI: 3.0-77.8, p < 0.01), and all-cause in-hospital death (OR = 10.73, 95% CI: 3.9-29.69, p < 0.001), alongside NRS-2002 and ADL scores. Healthcare-associated infections did not affect the risk of 14- and 30-day and 1-year readmissions in multivariate analysis, which were related to, among other factors, ADL score and mode of admission.

Conclusions: Healthcare-associated infections statistically and significantly affected only outcomes related to the current hospitalization, across both univariate and multivariate analyses. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(2):179-89.

Objectives: The aim of the article is to compare people working remotely and people working at the employer's premises in terms of psychosocial working conditions and mental well-being.

Material and methods: A longitudinal study conducted on a group of 494 people working remotely (N = 206) and those working stationary (N = 288) in 2021-2022 using the Copenhagen Working Conditions Questionnaire.

Results: The results of analysis of variance in the mixed design showed that some psychosocial conditions of their work (e.g., emotional work demands, demands for hiding emotions, control at work, role conflict and trust in co-workers) were assessed better by remote workers than by people working stationary. Remote workers also had better mental well-being over time than those working at the employer's premises, especially in relation to psychological strain, depression and burnout.

Conclusions: The results of this study therefore suggest that remote work may be a desirable form of work from the point of view of improving psychosocial working conditions and the mental well-being of employees, and thus increase the quality of life of working people. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(2):135-50  .

Objectives: The increasing prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e‑cigarette) use among adolescents has raised concerns about potential high‑risk behaviors, particularly the addition of psychoactive substances to e‑cigarette liquid (e‑liquids). This study examines the association between exposure to e‑cigarette marketing and the practice of adding psychoactive substances to e‑liquids among Polish teenagers.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 8,344 Polish teenagers aged 15 years and older. The study evaluated exposure to various e-cigarette marketing channels, the prevalence of psychoactive substances added to e-liquids and associated demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Results: A cross‑sectional survey was conducted with 8344 Polish teenagers aged ≥15 years. The study evaluated exposure to various e‑cigarette marketing channels, the prevalence of psychoactive substances added to e‑liquids and associated demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Conclusions: These findings elucidate the com‑ plex interplay between e‑cigarette marketing exposure, socioeconomic factors, and high‑risk e‑cigarette use among adolescents. The results underscore the necessity for more stringent regulation of e‑cigarette marketing and comprehensive, targeted prevention strategies focusing on urban and higher‑income youth populations. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(2):190-206.

Objectives: Rapid urbanization has intensified the demand for human labor, including in sectors like food delivery, where workers are prone to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study aimed to assess the ergonomic risks among food delivery riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 191 food delivery riders in September 2021 - March 2022. The REBA method, a paper-and-pen observational tool, was utilized to evaluate the postural risks associated with WMSDs. Data on demographics and working conditions were collected through interviews and observations. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize REBA scores, with mean scores compared between motorcycle types using t-tests.

Results: The mean final REBA score was 5, indicating a medium risk for developing WMSDs. Scores of 4, 5, and 6 were observed in 36.1%, 31.4%, and 31.9% of riders, respectively. Riders using scooters generally had lower REBA scores than those using sedan motorcycles.

Conclusions: The study highlighted a medium risk of WMSDs among food delivery riders. Ergonomic interventions, particularly in motorcycle design, are necessary to mitigate these risks and improve occupational safety and health. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(2):170-8.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess total fatigue levels among nursing staff who provide palliative care services, as well as to identify significant sociodemographic, occupational and cognitive predictors of self-perceived fatigue.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a study group of 424 nurses that provide health care services in the palliative care units in Poland. The following scales were employed in the study: Fatigue Assessment Scale, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Perceived Stress at Work and Professional Quality of Life Scale.

Results: The average total fatigue level in the study group was 20.78 (SD = 5.41). There was a positive relationship between gender, age, place of residence, marital status, education, perception of social support, occupational stress, and professional quality of life and perceived fatigue. In turn, there was a negative relationship between years of service and perception of social support in the "others" category and perceived fatigue.

Conclusions: The study's results show a significant relationship between perceived fatigue and sociodemographic, occupational and cognitive variables. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1):41-56.

Objectives: The study investigated the concentrations of metals (chromium [Cr], manganese [Mn], cobalt [Co], nickel [Ni]) in the blood plasma and urine of Polish welders exposed to these elements contained in welding dust/fumes based on the results of biological monitoring, analyze the interrelationships between these elements, and attempt to correlate these data with telomere length. It is believed that telomere length can be considered a marker of exposure, including occupational. Analysis of questionnaire surveys was also taken into consideration.

Material and methods: The study included 118 male welders and 51 age-matched male controls. Metals analysis in plasma and urine were determined by ICP-MS technique. Telomere length was measured in blood genomic DNA using the qRT-PCR method.

Results: Welders had significantly higher plasma levels of Cr, Ni, and Mn (p < 0.0001, respectively). Total concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Mn in the urine of pre-shift subjects were significantly higher compared to controls. Cobalt concentration in urine of exposed welders was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than in control group. Telomere length was exactly the same in the welder group compared to the control (mean ± standard deviation 0.99±0.41 vs. 0.99±0.52, respectively). Plasma and urine metal concentrations and telomere length were also studied in groups of welders in relation to personal protection equipment. Differences were found in plasma and urine metal concentrations according to the aspirators used. Statistically significant linear correlations were found between plasma and urine concentrations of the determined elements both before and after the work shift.

Conclusions: The findings suggest a positive relationship between Ni and Mn (end-shift) concentrations and telomere length, the effect which remained statistically significant even after adjusting for age and metabolic status. This indicates a complex interplay between metal exposure and biological aging markers. However, the relationship between exposure to welding fumes and changes in telomere length in welders requires further in-depth research. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1):70-90.

The study focuses on setting outdoor exposure limits for wind turbine infrasound, as most countries currently have no specific limits for this type of noise. A review of the literature on the effects of wind turbine infrasound and the methods used worldwide to measure and assess environmental exposure to infrasound formed the basis for setting limits. According to the literature, human tolerance to infrasound is defined by the hearing threshold, which is not yet standardized. Therefore, a G96 curve (corresponding to tones with the G-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) equal to 96 dB) was used to determine the mean hearing threshold in the 1-20 Hz frequency range. Infrasound that cannot be heard (or felt) is not annoying and does not cause other adverse health effects. The infrasound levels measured around wind farms are well below the hearing threshold. Few countries have set limits for infrasound in either outdoor or indoor environments. The study proposes the G-weighted equivalent SPL as the basis for assessing exposure to infrasound from wind turbines. It also specifies preliminary short-term indices (i.e., G-weighted equivalent SPLs for daytime [L_{Geq, D}] and nighttime [L_{Geq, N}]) and long-term indices (i.e., averaged G-weighted day-evening-night infrasound level [L_DEN(G)] and G-weighted night infrasound level [L_N(G)]). In order to avoid annoyance and other possible harmful effects, regardless of land use, 90 dB was provisionally adopted as an acceptable value for L_{Geq, D} and L_DEN(G), and 85 dB for L_{Geq, N} and L_N(G). The study highlights the importance of considering specific exposure limits for wind turbine infrasound to ensure the well-being and comfort of people living near wind turbines. IInt J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1):3-17.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between skeletal muscle disorders (SMD), occupational stress (OS) and depressive symptoms (DS) among firefighters.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among firefighters in Chongqing, China. Descriptive statistic and correlation analyses were performed by using SPSS 26.0. AMOS 24.0 was used to construct the structural equation modeling between SMD and DS. The mediating effect of OS was also evaluated.

Results: The results demonstrate that SMD can predict DS (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) and OS (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) positively, OS positively predicted DS (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) after controlling for SMD. Additionally, OS has a partial indirect effect between DS and SMD (indirect effects = 0.209, 95% CI: 0.093-0.372, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Occupational stress has a partial indirect effect between SMD and DS among firefighters. Skeletal muscle disorders could affect DS not only directly, but also indirectly, by affecting OS. These findings may be of great significance and contribution to the future research of firefighters' occupational health. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1):18-29.

Objectives: To explore the clinical characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) caused by long-term exposure to steady-state noise and find a possible inflection point time leading to hearing deterioration.

Material and methods: Subjects exposed to steady-state noise were selected as the noise-exposed group and matched with a control group of individuals not exposed to noise. Both groups underwent pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), and their hearing conditions were analyzed. The time inflection point with the most significant disparities in NIHL between early and late exposure was evaluated. The noise-exposed subjects were divided into 2 groups based on cumulative exposure time: the early exposure group (group A) and the late exposure group (group B). Retrospective analyses of clinical characteristics of hearing loss were conducted.

Results: The noise-exposed group exhibited significantly higher hearing thresholds and reduced otoacoustic emissions compared to the control group, with high-frequency hearing loss being the most prominent. The most significant disparity in high-frequency hearing loss in PTA was observed before and after 5 years of cumulative steady-state noise exposure. Among the 78 noise-exposed subjects, 37 were in group A (≤5 years) and 41 in group B (>5 years). In DPOAE, the most significant disparity occurred before and after 4 years of acexposure, with 33 subjects in group A (≤4 years) and 45 in group B (>4 years). Distortion product otoacoustic emissions identified the time inflection point of significant hearing deterioration 1 year earlier than PTA.

Conclusions: Hearing loss caused by long-term exposure to steady-state noise showed evident deterioration after 4-5 years. The DPOAE can illustrate the inflection point of hearing deterioration 1 year earlier than PTA. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1):57-69.

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in Europe. There are more and more young people and middle-aged patients with obesity, unrecognized hypertension and metabolic abnormalities. Professional soldiers should not have CVDs. Most cardiovascular risk factors can be controlled and identified.

Material and methods: The research was conducted as the online survey. During the study, the level of knowledge regarding to cardiovascular risk factors depending on several variables, was assessed. Moreover, the assess respondents' awareness of exposure and the level of knowledge about risk factors for CVDs and preventive measures in this area.

Results: Almost one-fourth of respondents (23.4%, N = 311) indicated the knowledge of most or all cardiovascular factors such as: high level of cholesterol, tobacco smoking, advanced aged, abdominal obesity, alcohol abuse and others. The respondents demonstrated a sufficient level of factors influencing the increase of cholesterol levels in the blood.

Conclusions: The results obtained during the study show that educational programs are necessary to raise awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and reduce incidence rate in the next step. Conducting training on harmful agents can result in raising general health awareness among Polish Soldiers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1):30-40.