[Effect of work load on arteriosclerosis risk factors in employees of 2 Upper Silesia industries]

Investigations were undertaken to estimate various energy expenditure during professional work on incidence of hypertension, overweight, obesity, hyperuricaemia and hypercholesterolemia in workers of two enterprises in Upper Silesia. The study was carried out in 1957 individuals (1392 male, 565 female) divided into 5 groups according to the hardness of their work. Serum level of uric acid and cholesterol was determined in all investigated subjects. Incidence of hypertension, overweight and obesity was estimated. It has been stated that incidence of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, overweight and obesity in men and hyperuricaemia in both sexes decreased with hardness of the work. The incidence of hypertension, overweight and obesity was not related to hardness of the work in women. The authors conclude that physical activity associated with professional work can be much more in men than in women listed as a preventive measure against arteriosclerosis.