Risk factors for hypertension and diabetes mellitus in metallurgic and siderurgic company's workers.
OBJECTIVE
To study the factors associated with arterial hypertension (AH) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in a metal and steel industry's workers with units in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, using a hierarchical risk model.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study. We obtained information on demographic, occupational and lifestyle variables, in addition to the lipid profile, fasting glycemia and blood pressure of 3,777 employees, and we carried out descriptive statistical analysis and hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of AH was 24.7% and the hierarchical regression analysis indicated that male gender and age above 40 years presented statistically significant risk. Regardless of demographic characteristics, working in the metal industry, intense stress at work, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, body mass index above 25, altered cholesterol and altered triglycerides were associated with AH. The prevalence of DM was 11.5% and the hierarchical regression analysis indicated that male gender and age above 40 years presented statistically significant risk. Regardless of demographic characteristics, the same conditions were associated with DM.


CONCLUSIONS
The data evidenced that workers above 40 years are a priority for intervention actions aimed at improving the prevention of these two conditions. These actions should focus especially on eating habits and the practice of physical exercise, which could improve the control of obesity and of alterations in the lipid profile.
Martinez
Maria Carmen
MC
Faculdade de Saúde Pública, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mcmarti@uol.com.br
Latorre
Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
Mdo R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors