Prevalence of Arterial Hypertension in Electric Motor Production Workers

Kornelia O. Kotseva

Centre of Occupational Diseases, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria

Corresponding author: Kornelia P. Kotseva

Centre of Occupational Diseases

Medical University, 15, D. Nestorov Str.

1431 Sofia, Bulgaria

tel.: (+359) 2 5812491

FAX: (+359) 2 595106

Mailing address: 41, Sitnyakovo Blvd. bl.2, vh.A, 1505 Sofia, Bulgaria

CEJOEM 1997, 3:224-230

Key words:
Arterial hypertension, noise, heat, xylene, toluene, occupational exposure

Abbreviations:
AH = arterial hypertension
BMI = body mass index
CI = confidence interval
DBP = diastolic blood pressure
OR = odds ratio
SBP = systolic blood pressure
SD = standard deviation

Abstract:
To seek an eventual association between occupational exposure to overconcentrations of organic solvents, noise and heat and the prevalence of arterial hypertension.
    A “case-control” study on 640 workers (425 men) aged between 20 and 60 working in an electric motor production factory and 152 controls (101 men) without occupational contact with chemical and physical risk factors. The exposed workers were assigned into 3 risk groups: risk group 1, exposed to overconcentrations of xylene, toluene, noise and heat; risk group 2, exposed to overconcentrations of xylene, toluene and noise, and risk group 3, exposed to noise alone.
    The prevalence of arterial hypertension in the exposed workers (46.2%) was significantly higher than in the controls (16.4%; P<0.001). The prevalence of arterial hypertension was highest in risk group 1 (54.7%) and decreased in risk group 2 (44.9%) and risk group 3 (36.1%). A strong association was found between the length of service and the prevalence of arterial hypertension.
    The results show that workers in electric motors production have an increased prevalence of arterial hypertension. The risk is highest in workers with combined exposure to high concentrations of xylene, toluene, noise and heat, decreases in those exposed to xylene, toluene and noise, and is comparatively lowest in the ones exposed to noise alone.

Received: 27 December 1996 Accepted: 14 July 1997 Posted: 25 November 1998
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