Age and BMI interact to determine work ability in seafarers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Maritime Medicine
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Seafaring is a demanding occupation with poorly understood implications of aging.
• Investigating the impact of aging on seafarers' work capacity is crucial for occupational health.
• Understanding the interplay of age, BMI, and work demands is essential for seafarer well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess task demands and work ability in merchant seamen at sea.
• To identify key factors that predict work ability in this population.
• To explore the relationship between physiological data, self-reported demands, and work capacity.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study on a single vessel with 41 merchant seamen.
• Recorded instantaneous heart rate (HR) during 8-hour shifts.
• Utilized the Work Ability Index and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) for assessments, alongside BMI and age data.

Main Results:

• Work demands were moderate based on HR and NASA-TLX scores.
• Mean age was 47 years, mean BMI was 27.5 kg/m².
• Work ability was rated 'good' to 'excellent'; age and BMI independently decreased work ability, but their interaction was the strongest predictor.

Conclusions:

• Seafarer work ability is high, with moderate task demands.
• The interaction between age and BMI significantly predicts diminished work ability in older, heavier seafarers.
• Interventions targeting BMI may be beneficial for maintaining work ability in aging maritime professionals.