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Longitudinal Surveillance for Chronic Health Conditions in Former United States Department of Energy Site Workers
Miranda Dally1, Paul Ogden, Sara Howard
1From the Centers for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO (M.D., P.O., M.V.D., L.S.N.); Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO (M.D., P.O., M.V.D., L.S.N.); Epidemiology and Exposure Science, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN (S.H., A.G., D.C.); Epidemiology and Exposure Science, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Arvada, CO (Z.H., W.B., J.S.); Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO (L.S.N.); and Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO (L.S.N.).
Objective:
The aim of the study was to determine (1) the rate at which rescreening former Department of Energy site workers identifies noncommunicable chronic diseases and (2) the development of comorbid conditions.
Methods:
Incidence and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, reduced kidney function, and peripheral neuropathy at both initial and return screenings were calculated. Risk ratio of chronic disease development at return screening based on the presence of other conditions at initial screening were estimated with generalized linear regression.
Results:
Prevalence of reduced kidney function was 19% at initial examination and 30% at return examination. The screening program was responsible for identifying 81% of reduced kidney function cases. Similar findings were present for the other chronic conditions examined.
Conclusions:
Former worker health surveillance programs help identify significant health conditions among DOE workers, subcontractors, and visitors. Longitudinal screening of participants detects additional chronic conditions.
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