A Study of the Health of Seafaring Workers of Valencia, Spain

Under the auspices of the Service of Maritime Health of the Marine Social Institute of Valencia, Spain, the health status of seafaring workers from Valencia was evaluated. An epidemiologic study was carried out based on 707 pre-embarkation health examinations, collecting information about the health problems of these workers and their associated risk factors. The data were analyzed to estimate population frequencies and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Significance among groups was calculated by the chi-square test (p < 0.05). Relative risks were calculated in comparisons of the seafaring workers with the general population of Valencia. High incidences of ophthalmologic disorders were found in workers over 50 years of age (15.9%) and in alcohol consumers (29.3%). Digestive problems were observed among alcohol-consuming (21.7%) workers 31-40 years old (8.5%). Risk factors for circulatory disorders increased steadily among those over age 50 (9.0%), non-smokers (10.3%), and those weighing more than 75 kg (8.2%). Finally, respiratory diseases were more frequent among individuals whose work involved fishing (12.7%). Risks increased with alcohol and tobacco consumption (16.6% and 17.5%, respectively). The risks of developing circulatory and ophthalmologic disorders were 10.5 and 10.3 times greater, respectively, among the seafaring workers than in the general population, while the risks of infections and genitourinary disorders were 10.2 and 9.7 times greater. Workers at high risk for health problems were typically more than 51 years old, with body weights of more than 75 kg, family histories of health problems, and heavy use of tobacco and alcohol. Compared with the general population of Valencia and the national population of Spain, the prevalences of ophthalmologic, digestive, respiratory, and circulatory disorders were higher in the seafaring workers.