RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to examine the trend of major clinical biochemistry factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and dyslipidemia onset over a 10-year period (2000-2010) in Oil and Gas workers. METHODS: The information extracted from "Computerized management of individual medical services database" regarding 439 Italian workers of an oil and gas company were analysed. RESULTS: A constant and significant increase of the average Body Mass Index and serum cholesterol were found, and in particular in workers < 36 years: BMI was 24.4 (2000) and 25.8 (2010) with p < 0.001, and cholesterol was 188.3 mg/dL (2000) and 206.5 mg/dL (2010) with p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Analysed variables are the most important risk factor for cardiovascular, neurological and neoplastic diseases, as well as they reduce life expectancy. Occupational medicine in particular in extreme working environmental conditions, such as for workers in oil and gas companies, monitoring health status and promoting healthy life style, has a strategic role to perform cost-effective strategies to reduce health risks, thus improving the workers lifestyle.