RESUMEN
Although possession and use of marijuana is prohibited by federal law, legalization in four states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington) and allowance for palliation and therapy in 19 others may reposition the drug away from the fringes of society. This evolving legal environment, and growing scientific evidence of its effectiveness for select health conditions, requires assessment of the safety and appropriateness of marijuana within the American workforce. Although studies have suggested that marijuana may be used with reasonable safety in some controlled environments, there are potential consequences to its use that necessitate employer scrutiny and concern. Several drug characteristics must be considered, including Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC, or THC) concentration, route of administration, dose and frequency, and pharmacokinetics, as well as the risks inherent to particular workplace environments.
Asunto(s)
Marihuana Medicinal , Salud Laboral , China , Control de Medicamentos y Narcóticos/historia , Control de Medicamentos y Narcóticos/legislación & jurisprudencia , Historia del Siglo XIX , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia del Siglo XXI , Historia Antigua , Humanos , Marihuana Medicinal/historia , Marihuana Medicinal/farmacocinética , Marihuana Medicinal/farmacología , Marihuana Medicinal/uso terapéutico , Desempeño Psicomotor/efectos de los fármacos , Estados Unidos , Lugar de TrabajoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between obesity and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis examining the association between body mass index and ECG abnormalities among Massachusetts' firefighters. RESULTS: Overall, 276 firefighters had undergone ECG testing at baseline (1996/97) and follow-up (2000). The incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was 15 per 1000 person-years of follow-up. After adjusting for age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, obese firefighters were about two times more likely to develop ECG-LVH (OR = 2.0; 95% CI, 0.6 to 6.6) and were 1.5 times more likely to develop ECG abnormalities (OR = 1.5; 95% CI, 0.6 to 3.9) at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Obese firefighters appear to have a higher risk of LVH and ECG abnormalities than normal-weight individuals. Our findings need further evaluation and may have important implications for occupational health policies and periodic medical evaluations.
