engleski

Blood pressure surveillance in a working population in Croatia: prevalence and control of hypertension

Introduction: Hypertension, the important cardiovascular risk, was increasing in Croatian working population, while rates of hypertension control continued to be low. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of arterial hypertension in the continental Croatian working population and to estimate the awareness and control of hypertension in relation to age, gender and certain aspects of occupation. Methods: The study comprised two cross-sectional surveys on arterial hypertension in working population. First survey included 26 643 workers from manufacturing, administrative and service sector in continental Croatia (mean age 36.4 years, range 18-56 years, 57% male). In second survey authors sampled 1123 workers from the first survey undergoing routine medical check-up, which involved a structured questionnaire and physical examination. Socioeconomic status of the study subjects was estimated by assessing their education level and type of occupation. Descriptive techniques and multivariate logistic regression were used. Results: In the first survey high blood pressure (>= 140/90 mm Hg) had been diagnosed by occupational health service in 12, 9% of workers. Women were hypertensive more often than men (13, 8%:12, 2%). Hypertension prevalence increased across the gradient from service sector to office workers to manufacturing: 9, 15 and 19 percent, respectively. Routine check-up in the second survey showed that 31.8% (33.7% of males and 29, 3% of females) had high blood pressure. The rates of awareness, treatment and control tended to increase with age, and decrease with education level. Discussion: The results implied that the blood pressure in the Croatian working population was not adequately controlled, particularly in younger workers and in workers with lower education level and in certain types of occupation. The evidence of occupational factors contributing to workers’ cardiovascular disease may have public health benefits – the introduction of effective public and occupational health measures to enhance the knowledge about potential risks and rates of treatment.

occupational factors; blood pressure; hypertension control

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