Differences in cardiovascular risk levels between cleaning staff and hotel housekeepers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a greater incidence in the most disadvantaged social classes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the level of cardiovascular risk in cleaning workers. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study in 46.632 cleaning workers (40.169 women and 6.463 men). Thirty-one different scales related to cardiovascular risk were studied (14 assessing overweight and obesity, 5 determining the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 5 scales of cardiovascular risk, 4 atherogenic indices, and 3 scales of metabolic syndrome, among others). The results obtained were divided between personnel who perform their cleaning tasks in the hotel and catering industry and those in other sectors. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity and arterial hypertension in cleaning workers was over 20% in both sexes. A similar amount was observed in moderate or high values on the REGICOR (Registre GIroní del COR) scale. More than 15% presented metabolic syndrome according to the NCEP ATPIII (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Program III) criteria, while over 10% of women and 20% of men had a high risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease assessed with the fatty liver index. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risk is higher, in both sexes, in the group of cleaning workers who work in companies other than hotels.

Relationship between blood glucose levels and cardiovascular risk in the Spanish Mediterranean population.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Diabetes is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is an intermediate clinical situation between normal glucose levels and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to determine how fasting glucose concentrations affect different cardiovascular risk scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted with 59,041 Mediterranean Spanish workers. IFG was determined using the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Different indicators of cardiovascular risk were analyzed: body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, blood pressure, lipid parameters, atherogenic indices, metabolic syndrome, and various scales of cardiovascular risk such as REGICOR, DORICA, SCORE, Heart Age, and Vascular Age. RESULTS: All cardiovascular scales showed statistically significant differences between the IFG group and the normal glucose group. In all cases, values were worse in the IFG group; furthermore, men exhibited more unfavorable levels of cardiovascular risk factors than women. Higher odds ratio values were present in employees with metabolic syndrome according to ATP III criteria (9.42, 95% CI: 8.56-10.37 using WHO criteria and 9.25, 95% CI: 8.67-9.87 using ADA criteria).Conclusions: IFG increases cardiovascular risk whether using classical scales (REGICOR, SCORE, and metabolic syndrome) or other less studied scales (atherogenic indices, Heart Age, and Vascular Age).

[Prevalence of impaired fasting glucose in a working population of Spanish Mediterranean area: influence of sociodemographic variables and healthy habits]. / Prevalencia de glucemia basal alterada (GBA) en población laboral del área mediterránea española: Influencia de variables sociodemográficas y hábitos saludables.

INTRODUCTION: The impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is an intermediate clinical situation between normal glucose and type 2 diabetes, it is known that 25% of people with IFG progress to type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Descriptive study in 60,798 Spanish workers. The IFG was determined using the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria: 100-125 mg/dl and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: 110-125 mg/dl. The influence of sociodemographic variables (age, sex, social class, studies class) and healthy habits (tobacco, alcohol consumption, physical activity, feeding) were evaluated in the IFG prevalence. RESULTS: The IFG prevalence was 3.3% (1.8% in women and 4.5% in men) using the WHO criteria and 11.8% (7% in women and 15.4% in men) using the ADA criteria. The IFG is more common in men and increases with age. People with low socioeconomic status (social classes IV and V, blue collar and primary studies) and poor health habits (smokers, heavy alcohol consumption and low physical activity) have a higher prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The sociodemographic variables and the healthy habits, except consumption of fruits and vegetables, influence the prevalence of IFG.