218188 Prevalence of the metabolic Syndrome among US workers: NHANES 1999-2004

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Evelyn P. Davila, PhD , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - OHH Center and NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Hermes Florez, PhD, MD , Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, MIami, FL
William G. LeBlanc, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, MPH , Master of Public Health Program, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Coral Gables, FL
Kristopher L. Arheart, EdD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Kathryn E. McCollister, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Elizabeth Goodman, MD , Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Sharon L. Christ, PhD , Odum Institute for Research in Social Science & Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
John D. Clark, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Objective: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors differs by occupational group. This study assessed the differences in prevalence and risk of the metabolic syndrome by occupational group using nationally representative data of US workers.

Research design and methods: Data from 8,457 employed adults (representing 131 million workers) of the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. Age-adjusted prevalence and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusted for several potential confounders (such as body mass index, alcohol drinking, smoking, and physical activity) and survey design.

Results: Twenty percent of workers had metabolic syndrome, with “food preparation and food service workers,” and “farm managers, operators and supervisors” having the greatest prevalence (29.6-31.1%) and “writers, artists, entertainers, athletes,” and “engineers, architects, and scientists” the lowest (8.5-9.2%). In logistic regression analyses adjusting for socio-demographics and confounders, “transportation/material moving workers” had a greater risk for metabolic syndrome relative to executive, administrative, managerial professionals (odds ratio=1.70 [95% confidence interval=1.49-2.52]).

Conclusions: There is variability in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome by occupational status. Workplace health promotion programs addressing risk factors for metabolic syndrome that target high risk workers may be an efficient way to reach at-risk populations.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1). Assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome by occupational status among US workers. 2) Discuss reasons for the differences in prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among various US workers.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Occupational Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a degree in Epidemiology and have experience with research in cardiovascular disease and its risk factors
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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