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Hypertension: a survey of 7000 Air France employees
F Bisseliches1, M Lanoote, C Moussu
1Air France-Service Medical du Travail, Roissy Charles de Gaulle, France.
Insights
This study on 6,863 employees found hypertension incidence varied by job type, with ground staff having the highest rate. Ongoing surveillance significantly improved outcomes for neglected and unsatisfactorily treated hypertension cases.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Routine medical check-ups for 6,863 employees (ground, cabin, cockpit crew) were conducted over one year.
- 150 cases of established hypertension were analyzed for status and evolution.
- Data collected included illness, treatment, heredity, etiology, risk factors, work type, and lifestyle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence and evolution of hypertension among airline employees.
- To identify risk factors and disparities in hypertension management within different occupational groups.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of occupational health surveillance in managing hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 6,863 employees undergoing routine medical examinations.
- Categorization of 150 hypertensive patients into four groups: satisfactorily treated, unsatisfactorily treated, neglected, and newly discovered.
- Analysis of hypertension incidence rates across ground staff, cabin staff, and cockpit crew.
Main Results:
- Hypertension incidence was highest in ground staff (3.9%), followed by cockpit crew (1.76%), and lowest in cabin staff (0.41%).
- A significant proportion of patients were either neglected or unsatisfactorily treated for hypertension.
- Ongoing surveillance led to clear improvements in blood pressure for neglected and unsatisfactorily treated groups.
Conclusions:
- While overall hypertension incidence is low, significant occupational disparities exist, particularly a low rate in cabin staff.
- A substantial number of employees suffer from neglected or inadequately treated hypertension.
- Occupational medical practitioners can effectively detect and manage hypertension through referral and collaboration with general practitioners.
Abstract:
During a period of one year, 6,863 employees underwent routine medical check-ups: 3,223 ground staff, 3,129 cabin staff, and 511 cockpit crew. One hundred and fifty permanent hypertensives were recorded and their status and evolution analysed in a survey. For every patient data were collected on illness, treatment, heredity, aetiology, risk factors, type of work and life style. The 150 patients surveyed were divided into four groups: (A) 70 satisfactorily treated hypertensives (57 men, 13 women); (B) 31 unsatisfactorily treated hypertensives (24 men, 7 women); (C) 33 neglected hypertensives (31 men, 2 women); and (D) 16 newly discovered hypertensives (14 men, 2 women). The incidence of hypertension was higher in ground staff (3.9%) than in cockpit crew (1.76%) and very low in cabin staff (0.41%). The neglected and unsatisfactorily treated hypertensives showed a clear improvement in their blood pressure through ongoing surveillance. In conclusion, while the incidence of hypertension in the population surveyed is quite low, this study shows a significantly lower rate in cabin staff and a large proportion of neglected and unsatisfactorily treated hypertension. It also shows how an occupational medical practitioner with no power of prescription can be effective in detecting the disease and referring the employee to his general practitioner, with a view towards achieving better collaboration.