title: Chronic venous disorders and occupation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic venous disorders in the general population are a significant socio-medical pathology. The importance and role of venous pathologies in the occupational field are underestimated and the data in the literature are incomplete and contradictory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was made of 336 male workers: 112 industry workers, 120 stoneworkers, and 104 office workers. A targeted questionnaire was administered to all workers regarding occupational and extraoccupational risk factors for venous pathologies. The same workers were clinically examined, and a venous check-up and specific tests were done in clinostatic and orthostatic postures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of chronic venous disorders, including major and minor pathology, was significantly higher among industrial workers (39.28%) than among stoneworkers (24.16%, P=.019) and office workers (22.11%, P=.010). Only for major pathology was the mean age higher in phlebopathic workers than in non-phlebopathic; furthermore, the proportion of workers standing for >/=50% of the work shift was higher in phlebopathic than in non-phlebopathic. These differences were significant in all working groups. The results showed a positive relationship between the prevalence of phlebopathy and increased age and number of hours spent standing. Considering workers of the same age classes, a higher prevalence of phlebopathy was found between those who stood for >/=50% of their shift and those who stood for <50% of the time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that professions involving standing, particularly for those standing for >/=50% of the shift, can influence the development of chronic venous disorders and a diagnostic clinical protocol to be used by occupational physicians in screening working populations for the prevention of venous disease is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine Dept., "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy. Tomei@axrma.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Baccolo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmi
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rosati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*