Selected risk factors of ischemic heart disease in Polish seafarers. Preliminary report

Cardiovascular diseases are a serious health problem for seafarers. Work-related exposures, their diet and limited physical exercise during work at sea are contributing factors for the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in this group of workers. The objective of the present study was determination of incidence of selected risk factors of IHD, such as overweight and obesity, tobacco smoking, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and elevated serum concentration of uric acid. A survey was conducted in 1998-2001 among 715 Polish seafarers examined at the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia. One or more of the above risk factors were detected in 593 examined persons (82.9%). A single risk factor was present in 30.5% of the study population, two factors in 50.3% three factors in 13.2%, while four or more risk factors were present in 6% of examined seafarers. The authors suggest that, during the periodic medical examinations, physicians should advice seafarers about prevention of cardiovascular disease, and those of them in whom three or more risk factors of IHD are detected, should be referred to cardiological consultation comprising the assessment of coronary performance (exercise test).