title: Impact of heavy load activity on cardiovascular system: echocardiographic assessment of informal construction workers heart in Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physiological cardiac hypertrophy and dilation are common findings in heavy physical load activity. We carried out this study to investigate the relationship between construction work and cardiac parameters adaptations, by comparing healthy masons to office workers on heart ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on, 50 construction workers and 50 office workers matched for their weight, height and age. Systolic and Diastolic blood pressures, Left Ventricular diameter and thickness, Septum wall thickness and Left ventricular mass index were measured and calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lower in construction workers, as compared to office workers: respectively 63±7 bpm vs. 75±6 bpm (p = 0.000); 120.1±7 mmHg vs. 130.5±9 mmHg (p = 0.000) and 68.5±7 mmHg vs. 77.0 ±9 mmHg (p = 0.000). Construction workers had a thicker septum and posterior wall: respectively 10.3 ± 1.1 mm vs. 8.9 ± 0.9 mm (p = 0.000); and 9.0 ± 1.2 mm vs. 8.1 ± 0.8 mm (p = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conclusion We deducted that heavy load work has an impact on the heart mensuration. The past occupational history has to be taken into consideration during initial medical assessing of a worker in for a new job so as to avoid erroneous conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Santé environnementale & Santé au travail, École de Santé Publique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nde
authors.affiliation: Polyclinique de Bonaberi, Douala, Cameroun.
authors.forename: Jules
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nebo
authors.affiliation: Université libre de Bruxelles 808, Hôpital Saint Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ngatchou
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques de l'Université de Douala, Cameroun.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tchatchoua
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques de l'Université de Douala, Cameroun.
authors.forename: Albert Mouelle
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Santé environnementale & Santé au travail, École de Santé Publique, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgique.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De  Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060389:Construction Industry; D004452:Echocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009817:Office Management; D014891:Weight Lifting; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload
keywords: Cardiac change; Work load; impact of physical activity; left ventricle; posterior wall thickness; septum; workers heart