[Preventive medical examination in asymptomatic workers: design and initial outcome of an institutional program]

We have designed a preventive medical examination program for workers of an electric company in Santiago, Chile. The first stage, directed mainly to identification of cardiovascular risk factors was completed in 1987. 1006 males and 163 females with mean age 45 +/- 9.4 years (range 22-65) were screened. High blood pressure mainly of mild degree was detected in 17.6% of subjects (57% of them were new cases). Total cholesterol above 220 mg/dl and HDL cholesterol below 40 mg/dl were present in 33% and 22%, respectively. Obesity (body weight > 120% of ideal weight for height) was present in 19%, and body mass index was above 27 in 25% of subjects. 23% of males and 31% of females smoked 1 or more cigarettes a day and 2% had an abnormal non-fasting glucose level. A total of 750 workers have at least 1 risk factor that should be corrected. No cases of cancer were detected by Papanicolaou and mammography. A positive correlation was found among LDL cholesterol, age and triglyceride levels and HDL was negatively correlated to triglycerides, blood glucose and obesity. A multivariate analysis of these factors revealed that only age was related to LDL levels and triglycerides to HDL levels. This health prevention program may help a significant number of asymptomatic workers by detecting risk factors that need correction in order to decrease mortality and morbidity in this population.