Pattern and Predictors of Cardiovascular Risks among Public Servants in a Southwestern State in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem globally. The public service workers, who are facilitators of national development, are particularly vulnerable because the nature of their job predisposes them to unhealthy lifestyles. However, there is paucity of reference data on the profile of cardiovascular risks among public servants in Nigeria. Therefore, this study determined the pattern and predictors of cardiovascular risk among public servants in Southwest, Nigeria. METHODS: A total of 1,778 public servants were recruited from 47 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Ondo State through multi-stage random sampling technique. The World Health Organization Stepwise instrument and Framingham Heart Study non-laboratory cardiovascular risk assessment tool were used to collect data. STATA version 14.2 was used for analysis and p-value of< 0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 44.2±9.1 years. They were predominantly females (64.8%). The proportions of participants with moderate and high 10-year absolute cardiovascular risks were 18.3% and 5.6%, respectively. Significant factors associated with increased cardiovascular risk were age (p=<0.001), sex (p =<0.001), education (p =<0.001), income (p =<0.001), staff category (p =<0.001) and employment grade level (p=<0.001). The significant predictors of increased cardiovascular risk on multivariate analysis were age > 50years (AOR:1.25;CI:1.19-1.32;p=<0.001) and male sex (AOR:6.62; CI:3.76-11.65;p=<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of increased 10-year absolute cardiovascular risk among public servants in Ondo State was high. The significant predictors were age >50 years and male sex. Cardiovascular risk reduction strategies should be encouraged among public servants especially the older males.

CONTEXTE: Les maladies cardiovasculaires constituent un problème majeur de santé publique à l'échelle mondiale. Les travailleurs du service public, qui sont des facilitateurs du développement national, sont particulièrement vulnérables car la nature de leur travail les prédispose à des modes de vie malsains. Cependant, il existe peu de données de référence sur le profil des risques cardiovasculaires chez les fonctionnaires au Nigeria. Par conséquent, cette étude a déterminé le profil et les prédicteurs du risque cardiovasculaire chez les fonctionnaires du Sud-Ouest du Nigeria. MÉTHODES: Au total, 1 778 fonctionnaires ont été recrutés dans 47 ministères, départements et agences de l'État d'Ondo par le biais d'une technique d'échantillonnage aléatoire à plusieurs degrés. L'instrument Stepwise de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé et l'outil d'évaluation du risque cardiovasculaire non-laboratoire de la Framingham Heart Study ont été utilisés pour collecter les données. STATA version 14.2 a été utilisé pour l'analyse et une valeur p< 0,05 a été considérée comme significative. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen des participants était de 44,2±9,1 ans. Il s'agissait principalement de femmes (64,8 %). Les proportions de participants présentant un risque cardiovasculaire absolu à 10 ans modéré et élevé étaient de 18,3 % et 5,6 %, respectivement. Les facteurs significatifs associés à un risque cardiovasculaire accru étaient l'âge (p=<0,001), le sexe (p =<0,001), l'éducation (p =<0,001), le revenu (p =<0,001), la catégorie de personnel (p =<0,001) et le niveau d'emploi (p=<0,001). Les prédicteurs significatifs d'un risque cardiovasculaire accru dans l'analyse multivariée étaient l'âge > 50 ans (AOR:1,25;CI:1,19-1,32;p=<0,001) et le sexe masculin (AOR:6,62;CI:3,76-11,65;p=<0,001). CONCLUSION: La prévalence d'un risque cardiovasculaire absolu accru sur 10 ans chez les fonctionnaires de l'État d'Ondo était élevée. Les prédicteurs significatifs étaient l'âge >50 ans et le sexe masculin. Les stratégies de réduction du risque cardiovasculaire devraient être encouragées chez les fonctionnaires, en particulier chez les hommes âgés. Mots Clés: Maladies cardiovasculaires, facteurs de risque, évaluation du risque, service public, Nigeria.

Preliminary Investigation into Urinary 1-Hydroxypyrene as a Biomarker for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons exposure among Charcoal Workers in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) has been widely used as a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in occupationally exposed workers. The objective of this study is to investigate the concentration of urinary 1-OHP among charcoal workers as subjects and non-charcoal workers as controls. METHODS: Early morning urine samples were collected from 68 persons (25 charcoal workers in Igbo-Ora, 20 charcoal workers in Alabata, and 23 non-charcoal workers) who volunteered to participate in this study. 1-OHP determination in urine samples was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography after hydrolysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean urinary 1-OHP concentration (µmol/mol creatinine) among charcoal workers at Igbo-Ora and Alabata and non-charcoal workers were 2.22 ± 1.27, 1.32 ± 0.65, and 0.32 ± 0.26 (p < 0.01). There existed a relationship between respondent type and 1-OHP concentration. Charcoal workers were 3.14 times more at risk of having 1-OHP concentrations that exceed the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists guideline of 0.49 µmol/mol creatinine than non-charcoal workers (relative risk = 3.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.7-5.8, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Charcoal workers are exposed to PAHs during charcoal production and are at risk of experiencing deleterious effects of PAH exposure. Routine air quality assessment should be carried out in communities where charcoal production takes place. Assessment of urinary 1-OHP concentration and use of personal protective equipment should also be encouraged among charcoal workers.

Air quality index from charcoal production sites, carboxyheamoglobin and lung function among occupationally exposed charcoal workers in South Western Nigeria.

Charcoal production is often accompanied with gaseous and particulate emission into the atmosphere and occupationally exposed workers could be affected. This cross sectional comparative study was carried out to assess the levels of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) generated during the phases of charcoal production and their relationship with certain biomarkers among charcoal workers (subjects) and non-charcoal workers (controls) such as carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and body mass index (BMI) in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State and Alabata, Ogun State, which are two of the major hubs of charcoal production in South Western Nigeria. Four communities in Igbo-Ora and six communities in Alabata were purposively selected and levels of pollutant gases were assessed using appropriate gas meters, PM2.5 was assessed with Thermo Scientific MIE pDR-1500, FEV1 and PEFR were measured with Piko-1 spirometer while COHb was assessed using non-invasive pulse CO-oximeter (Rad 57). Data were statistically analyzed and results were compared with recommended guidelines. The mean FEV1, PEFR, COHb and BMI for subjects and controls were 2.35 ± 0.73 and 2.69 ± 0.56, 253.72 ± 103.45 and 330.02 ± 94.61 (p < 0.01), 13.28 ± 3.91 and 8.50 ± 3.68 (p < 0.01) and 21.97 ± 2.19 and 23.36 ± 3.74 (p < 0.05) respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between actual and expected values of FEV1 (p < 0.01) and PEFR (p < 0.01) among charcoal workers. There existed a positive correlation between CO and COHb while FEV1 and PEFR correlated negatively with PM2.5. The study showed that charcoal workers are exposed to high levels of CO and PM2.5, contributing to lowered respiratory functions for FEV1 and PEFR and high levels of COHb compared to the control group. Routine respiratory and carboxyheamoglobin assessment of persons involved in charcoal production is also recommended.