The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Different Occupational Groups in New Zealand

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been shown to differ between occupations, few studies have specifically evaluated the distribution of known CVD risk factors across occupational groups. This study assessed CVD risk factors in a range of occupational groups in New Zealand, stratified by sex and ethnicity.

Two probability-based sample surveys of the general New Zealand adult population (2004-2006; n = 3003) and of the indigenous people of New Zealand (Māori; 2009-2010; n = 2107), for which occupational histories and lifestyle factors were collected, were linked with routinely collected health data. Smoking, body mass index, deprivation, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol were dichotomized and compared between occupational groups using age-adjusted logistic regression.

The prevalence of all known CVD risk factors was greater in the Māori survey than the general population survey, and in males compared with females. In general for men and women in both surveys 'Plant and machine operators and assemblers' and 'Elementary workers' were more likely to experience traditional CVD risk factors, while 'Professionals' were less likely to experience these risk factors. 'Clerks' were more likely to have high blood pressure and male 'Agricultural and fishery workers' in the general survey were less likely to have high cholesterol, but this was not observed in the Māori survey. Male Māori 'Trades workers' were less likely to have high cholesterol and were less obese, while for the general population survey, this was not observed.

This study showed differences in the distribution of known CVD risk factors across occupational groups, as well as between ethnic groups and males and females.