[Occupational Health Nurses' Role in the Occupational Health Surveillance of Exposure to Toxics: Toluene as a Case Study]. / Desarrollo de funciones de la enfermería del trabajo en la vigilancia de la salud laboral por exposición a tóxicos: el tolueno como ejemplo.

INTRODUCTION: Toluene, an aromatic hydrocarbon present in various products, is primarily absorbed through the respiratory tract and can affect different body organs. Occupational health nurses play a key role in detecting acute and chronic exposures. They are also responsible for collecting and processing samples for biomonitoring. However, information on the collection and handling requirements, as well as nursing interventions, is scarce and heterogeneous. AIMS: We reviewed the existing literature linking toluene and occupational health nursing, identified sample collection and processing requirements, as well as signs and symptoms of exposure, and related them to diagnoses and nursing interventions. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using the PICO strategy, without limitations on document type, date, or language, in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Signs and symptoms were classified according to the system and nursing test performed during the health examination, identifying possible diagnoses and nursing interventions. RESULTS: We found no studies linking toluene and occupational health nursing. Seven out of 60 identified documents were selected, which provided information on sample collection requirements. Signs and symptoms were identified based on nursing tests and related to diagnoses and nursing interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of occupational health nursing in studies on toluene is scarce. Sample collection criteria are heterogeneous and limited. There were no studies relating signs and symptoms of toluene exposure to diagnoses and nursing interventions. Further studies on occupational toxicology are needed from a nursing perspective.

Introducción: El tolueno, hidrocarburo aromático presente en varios productos, se absorbe principalmente por vía respiratoria y afecta diferentes sistemas corporales. Los enfermeros/as del trabajo son clave para detectar exposiciones agudas y crónicas. Además, son responsables de recolectar y procesar las muestras para su biomonitorización. Sin embargo, la información sobre los requisitos de recogida y manipulación, así como de intervenciones enfermeras es escasa y heterogénea.  Objetivo: Revisar la bibliografía disponible sobre el tolueno y la enfermería del trabajo, identificar requisitos de recogida y procesamiento de muestras, así como los signos y síntomas de exposición y relacionarlos con diagnósticos e intervenciones enfermeras. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica aplicando la estrategia PICO, no limitada por tipo de documento, fecha o idioma en PubMed, Web of Science y Scopus. Se clasificaron los signos y síntomas según sistema y prueba de enfermería realizada durante el examen de salud, identificando diagnósticos e intervenciones enfermeras. Resultados: No se encontraron estudios sobre tolueno y enfermería del trabajo. De 60 citas identificadas, 6 artículos señalaban requisitos de recogida de muestras. Se identificaron signos y síntomas de acuerdo a las pruebas de enfermería y se relacionaron con diagnósticos e intervenciones de enfermería. Conclusiones: La presencia de la enfermería del trabajo en la literatura científica sobre tolueno es escasa. Los criterios de recogida de muestras son heterogéneos y limitados. No se han encontrado estudios que relacionen signos y síntomas de exposición al tolueno con diagnósticos e intervenciones enfermeras. Se propone un cuadro relacional novedoso. Son necesarios estudios de toxicología laboral desde la perspectiva de la enfermería del trabajo.

Desarrollo de funciones de la enfermería del trabajo en la vigilancia de la salud laboral por exposición a tóxicos: el tolueno como ejemplo / Occupational Health Nurses' Role in the Occupational Health Surveillance of Exposure to Toxics: Toluene as a Case Study

Introducción: El tolueno, hidrocarburo aromático presente en varios productos, se absorbe principalmente por vía respiratoria y afecta diferentes sistemas corporales. Los enfermeros/as del trabajo son clave para detectar exposiciones agudas y crónicas. Además, son responsables de recolectar y procesar las muestras para su biomonitorización. Sin embar-go, la información sobre los requisitos de recogida y manipulación, así como de intervencio-nes enfermeras es escasa y heterogénea. Objetivo: Revisar la bibliografía disponible sobre el tolueno y la enfermería del trabajo, iden-tificar requisitos de recogida y procesamiento de muestras, así como los signos y síntomas de exposición y relacionarlos con diagnósticos e intervenciones enfermeras.Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica aplicando la estrategia PICO, no limitada por tipo de documento, fecha o idioma en PubMed, Web of Science y Scopus. Se clasificaron los signos y síntomas según sistema y prueba de enfermería realizada durante el examen de salud, identificando diagnósticos e intervenciones enfermeras.Resultados: No se encontraron estudios sobre tolueno y enfermería del trabajo. De 60 citas identificadas, 6 artículos señalaban requisitos de recogida de muestras. Se identificaron signos y síntomas de acuerdo a las pruebas de enfermería y se relacionaron con diagnósti-cos e intervenciones de enfermería.Conclusiones: La presencia de la enfermería del trabajo en la literatura científica sobre to-lueno es escasa. Los criterios de recogida de muestras son heterogéneos y limitados. No se han encontrado estudios que relacionen signos y síntomas de exposición al tolueno con diagnósticos e intervenciones enfermeras. Se propone un cuadro relacional novedoso. Son necesarios estudios de toxicología laboral desde la perspectiva de la enfermería del trabajo (AU)

ntroduction: Toluene, an aromatic hydrocarbon present in various products, is primarily absorbed through the respiratory tract and can affect different body organs. Occupational health nurses play a key role in detecting acute and chronic exposures. They are also re-sponsible for collecting and processing samples for biomonitoring. However, information on the collection and handling requirements, as well as nursing interventions, is scarce and heterogeneous.Aims: We reviewed the existing literature linking toluene and occupational health nursing, identified sample collection and processing requirements, as well as signs and symptoms of exposure, and related them to diagnoses and nursing interventions.Methods: We conducted a literature search using the PICO strategy, without limitations on document type, date, or language, in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Signs and symptoms were classified according to the system and nursing test performed during the health examination, identifying possible diagnoses and nursing interventions.Results: We found no studies linking toluene and occupational health nursing. Seven out of 60 identified documents were selected, which provided information on sample collection requirements. Signs and symptoms were identified based on nursing tests and related to diagnoses and nursing interventions.Conclusions: The presence of occupational health nursing in studies on toluene is scarce. Sample collection criteria are heterogeneous and limited. There were no studies relating signs and symptoms of toluene exposure to diagnoses and nursing interventions. Further studies on occupational toxicology are needed from a nursing perspective. (AU)

The Impact of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors on Lung Function Impairment: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of risk factors increasingly present in the world's population. People with this syndrome are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, evidence has shown that it affects different organs. MetS and its risk factors are independently associated with impaired lung function, which can be quantified through spirometric variables. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether a high number of MetS criteria is associated with increased lung function decline. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with a random sample of 1980 workers. Workers with acute respiratory pathology (eg, influenza), chronic respiratory pathology (eg, chronic bronchitis), or exposure to substances harmful to the lungs (eg, organic and inorganic dust) were not included. MetS was established based on harmonized criteria, and lung function was assessed according to spirometric variables. On the basis of these, classification into restrictive lung disease (RLD), obstructive lung disease, and mixed lung disease (MLD) was performed. In addition, the association between MetS and lung function was established based on analysis of covariance, linear trend analysis, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: MetS was associated with worse lung function according to all the spirometric parameters analyzed (percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second: mean 83, SD 13.8 vs mean 89.2, SD 12.8; P<.001 and percentage of predicted forced vital capacity: mean 85.9, SD 11.6 vs mean 92, SD 11.3; P<.001). Moreover, those diagnosed with MetS had a higher prevalence of lung dysfunction (41% vs 21.9%; P<.001), RLD (23.4% vs 11.2%; P<.001), and MLD (7.3% vs 2.2%; P<.001). Furthermore, an increasing number of MetS criteria was associated with a greater impairment of pulmonary mechanics (P<.001). Similarly, with an increasing number of MetS criteria, there was a significant linear trend (P<.001) in the growth of the prevalence ratio of RLD (0 criteria: 1, 1: 1.46, 2: 1.52, 3: 2.53, 4: 2.97, and 5: 5.34) and MLD (0 criteria: 1, 1: 2.68, 2: 6.18, 3: 9.69, and 4: 11.37). Regression analysis showed that the alteration of all MetS risk factors, adjusted for various explanatory variables, was significantly associated with a worsening of spirometric parameters, except for forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have shown that an increase in cardiometabolic risk factors is associated with a more significant worsening of spirometric variables and a higher prevalence of RLD and MLD. As spirometry could be a crucial tool for monitoring patients at risk of developing chronic pathologies, we conclude that this inexpensive and easily accessible test could help detect changes in lung function in patients with cardiometabolic disorders. This highlights the need to consider the importance of cardiometabolic health in lung function when formulating public health policies.

Dosage of Physical Activity to Avoid Impairment of Activities Due to Pain: Analysis of Population-based Conditional Processes.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity's established health benefits include pain control, yet there is no consensus on the required dosage according to the literature. AIM: To test the influence of exercise on perceived health in patients whose daily activities are limited due to pain. Besides, analyze the possible moderating effect of age and find a formula for exercise dosage based on the perceived level of health. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey with 4,123 participants reporting activity limitations in their daily activities due to pain. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version) was used to calculate energy expenditure. Data included age, sex, leisure-time physical activity, sitting time, pain-related impairments, pain medication, and perceived health. Mediation regression analysis was conducted using the SPSS PROCESS 4.0 macro. RESULTS: Results indicate a decline in perceived health with age. The relationship between exercise (energy expenditure) and perceived health was highly significant (d=-0.224, p<0.001). Age moderated the association between pain and energy expenditure up to 75.61 years (0.1568, p=0.05) and between energy expenditure and perceived health up to 75.74 years (-0.289, p=0.05), but this effect diminished afterwards. A formula was developed to estimate energy expenditure based on the desired level of health. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of health in people who are limited in their daily activities due to pain (moderate to very much) is mediated by the amount of physical activity they perform. Besides, this perception is moderated by age, up to 76 years.

Lifestyle, Type of Work, and Temporary Disability: An Incidence Study of the Working Population.

The objective of the study was to identify lifestyles associated with loss of health among workers. A retrospective longitudinal incidence study was carried out over a three-year period (2015, 2016, and 2017) among the working population. A total of 240 workers were analysed using information from occupational health assessments. The outcome variable was loss of health due to common illness or workplace injury, quantified by the number of days each episode lasted. Predictor variables were age, gender, type of work, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical activity (IPAQ), and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD). An adjusted multiple linear regression was performed, determining the goodness of fit of the final model using the coefficient of determination adjusted r2. During the study, 104 men (58.8%) and 25 women (39.7%) suffered an episode of illness or workplace injury (p < 0.05). The overall incidence was 17.9% people/year 95% CI [15, 21.3]. 4.6% of the workers were sedentary or engaged in light physical activity, and 59.2% maintained an adequate AMD. Workers who engaged in high levels of physical activity had an average of 36.3 days of temporary disability compared to 64.4 days for workers with low-moderate levels of physical activity (p < 0.01).

Association between metabolic syndrome and uric acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to provide the best evidence on the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and uric acid (UA) by determining the size of the effect of this biomarker on MetS. The review protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021231124). The search covered the PubMed and Scopus databases. Methodological quality was assessed with the STROBE tool, overall risk of bias with RevMan (Cochrane Collaboration) and quality of evidence with Grade Pro. Initially, 1582 articles were identified. Then, after excluding duplicates and reviewing titles and abstracts, 1529 articles were excluded from applying the eligibility criteria. We included 43 papers (56 groups) comparing UA concentrations between subjects 91,845 with MetS and 259,931 controls. Subjects with MetS had a higher mean UA of 0.57 mg/dl (95% CI 0.54-0.61) (p < 0.00001). Given the heterogeneity of the included studies, the researchers decided to perform subgroups analysis. Men with MetS have a higher UA concentration mg/dl 0.53 (95% CI 0.45-0.62, p < 0.00001) and women with MetS 0.57 (95% CI 0.48-0.66, p < 0.00001) compared to subjects without MetS. Assessment of UA concentration could provide a new avenue for early diagnosis of MetS, as a new biomarker and the possibility of new therapeutic targets.

Relationships between work, lifestyles, and obesity: cross-sectional study based on the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey.

AIMS: Overweight and obesity are affected by factors such as dietary transgressions and lack of exercise, as well as less obvious factors such as shift work and sedentary working. (i) To explore the associations between overweight and obesity (O/O) with working conditions such as type of job position, and work shifts; (ii) to know the associations between O/O with lifestyles (physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco and alcohol consumption). METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional, population-based design was used based on the Spanish National Health Survey. The final sample consisted of 9097 workers aged between 18 and 65. The influence of the explanatory variables on the outcome variable (body mass index) was examined using logistic regression. The prevalence of O/O increased by 4% for every additional year of age (P < 0.001) and was 3.1 times more frequent among men (P < 0.001). It also was 20% higher in night work or rotating shifts (P < 0.01), and 14.9% lower in sedentary job positions (P < 0.05). Low consumption of the following foods was significantly associated with a reduction in O/O: meat (16.2%), fish (75.4%), cured meats (35.1%), dairy products (33.3%), and snacks (47.1%). CONCLUSION: Age, men, engaging in moderate or low levels of physical activity, being an ex-smoker, working during the night or rotating shifts, holding a non-sedentary job position, having a low to moderate consumption of pasta, potatoes, and rice, a moderate consumption of bread and cereals, as well as dairy products, vegetables, sugary foods, and fast food, have been significantly associated with a higher prevalence of O/O. No relationships were identified between the consumption of alcohol, fruit, eggs, pulses, and sugary soft drinks.

Influencia del estado dental en la confianza y relaciones de trabajadores de una industria petroquímica / Influence of dental status on the trust and relationships of workers in a petrochemical industry

Objetivos: El estado bucodental debe ser considerado como un elemento clave para el mantenimiento de la salud general y el bienestar psicosocial. El objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar si el estado dental afecta a la confianza o limita las relaciones personales o laborales de los trabajadores (N=218) de una empresa española del sector petroquímico. Material y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal entre enero y diciembre de 2017. Las variables analizadas fueron edad, sexo, estado dental, frecuencia de la afectación de la confianza y limitación de las actividades cotidianas. El análisis estadístico incluyó los test Chi2, Fisher, Cochran-Armitage y los coeficientes de correlación Phi y Contingencia. Resultados: El análisis correlacional alcanzó significación entre las variables tiene empastes y relaciones laborales (p=0,038), entre confianza y tener caries (p=0,008) y entre la ausencia de piezas dentales y manera de hablar (p=0,043), forma de reír (p=0,039) y relaciones personales (p=0,030) y laborales (p=0,011). Conclusiones: El estado de salud bucodental afecta al bienestar psicosocial de los trabajadores estudiados (AU)

Background: Oral status should be considered as a key element for the maintenance of general health and psychosocial well-being. The aim of this research was to test whether dental status affects confidence or limits the personal or work relationships of workers (N=218) in a Spanish company in the petrochemical sector. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study between January and December 2017. The variables analyzed were age, sex, dental status, frequency of affecting confidence and limitation of daily activities. The statistical analysis included the Chi2, Fisher, Cochran-Armitage tests and the Phi and Contingency correlation coefficients. Results: The correlational analysis reached significance between the variables have fillings and work relationships (p=0.038), between confidence and having caries (p=0.008) and between the absence of dental pieces and way of speaking (p=0.043), way of laughing (p=0.039) and personal (p=0.030) and work relationships (p=0.011). Conclusions: Oral health status affects the psychosocial well-being of the workers studied (AU)

Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activity Related to Job Stress and Job Satisfaction: Correspondence Analysis on a Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is not the same as occupational activity. Various factors influence both forms of physical activity, including job stress and job satisfaction, but the associations found are weak, and the need for new studies in large populations is emphasized. The objective was to study the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction, and the relationship between these and occupational and leisure-time physical activity according to the National Survey of Health 2017. METHODS: A population-based study of 8716 workers between 18 and 65 years of age. The variables age, sex, leisure, and occupational-time physical activity (OTPA), educational level, type of occupation, job stress level, and job satisfaction were collected. A simple and multiple correspondence analysis was performed between the variables that reached statistical significance. RESULTS: 4621 cases (53.02%) correspond to men with a mean age of 44.83 years (SD 10.22) and 4095 cases to women with a mean age of 44.55 years (SD 10.23). Women had higher percentages of higher education (p < 0.001), intermediate to high occupations and unskilled (p < 0.001), job stress (p < 0.001), covered the most extreme levels of satisfaction (p = 0.003), and do less LTPA (p < 0.001) and OTPA (p < 0.001). Also, in women a relationship was found between job stress and LTPA (p = 0.024), as well as between satisfaction and both forms of physical activity (OTPA p = 0.013 and LTPA p < 0.001). In men, significance was only reached in the relationship between job stress and OTPA (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The higher the job stress, the less the job satisfaction, but the relationship is reversed in the intermediate categories. For both sexes, job stress is related to a sedentary lifestyle and higher employment and education levels. Higher levels of satisfaction correspond to higher levels of occupancy. The relationship between job satisfaction and educational level is direct in women but inverse in men. In women, there is a relationship between sedentary occupations and job satisfaction. In addition, intense physical activity at work is related to higher levels of job stress, lower satisfaction levels, and less physical activity in leisure-time.

Acculturation, Health Behaviors, and Social Relations among Chinese Immigrants Living in Spain.

This study aims to identify acculturation experiences about social relations and health behaviors of first-generation Chinese immigrants in the South of Spain, including food patterns, physical exercise, and tobacco and alcohol use. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, and field notes. All data were analyzed under the Berry's Model of Acculturation. A total of 133 Chinese immigrants were included. Our findings show that separation was the dominant acculturation strategy, followed by integration and assimilation, while marginalization was not present in this immigrant population. Most of the immigrant population maintains a link to the customs of their home country, favoring the process of identity and collective self-esteem. These results can help health managers and the government to further understand Chinese immigrants in Europe and to establish appropriate health interventions to this group.

[Hyperuricemia in shift workers: a cross-sectional study in a spanish chemical factory]. / Hiperuricemia y menor actividad física en trabajadores a turnos: estudio transversal en una industria química española.

OBJECTIVE: There is no clear consensus over the findings of research into shift work and cardiovascular risk factors, such as those present in the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This is further confounded by the varying definitions of MetS and shift work. Our objective was to learn about the link between shift work, lifestyles and cardiovascular health in chemical factory workers. METHODS: Cross-sectional analytical study, carried out 2018-2019; data obtained from annual occupational health check-ups. 515 workers chosen, with a 1:3 ratio (shifts/no shifts). Variables collected: MetS, arterial hypertension, obesity, abdominal adiposity and biochemical alterations (glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid). Explanatory variables: age, gender, tobacco consumption, physical activity and shift work. Besides the usual descriptions, both non-adjusted and adjusted bivariate logistic regression were performed, producing Odds Ratio (OR) values with 95% CI. RESULTS: The non-adjusted logistic regression showed that shift workers performed less physical activity (OR=0.22; 95% CI=0.14-0.35; p<0.001) and had lower HDL cholesterol levels (OR=2.1; 95% CI=1.2-3.8; p<0.05), plus a higher rate of hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.05; 95% CI=1.3-3.2; p<0.01) and hyperuricemia (OR=2.7; 95% CI=0.9-2.7; p<0.001). In the logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, tobacco consumption, physical activity and shift work only the prevalence of hyperuricemia was higher in shift workers (OR=2.25; 95% CI=1.1-4.6; p<0.05), as well as with less moderate/high physical activity (OR=0.19; 95% CI=0.12-0.31; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While no link was found between shift work and increased smoking or a higher cardiovascular risk, there was evidence of an association with high uric acid levels and less moderate/high physical activity.

OBJETIVO: Las conclusiones de las investigaciones sobre turnicidad y factores de riesgo cardiovascular, como los que forman parte del síndrome metabólico (SMet), no son unánimes. Las distintas definiciones del SMet y el trabajo por turnos las dificultan. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer la asociación entre el trabajo por turnos y los hábitos de vida y la salud cardiovascular de los trabajadores de una industria química. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico entre 2018 y 2019. Los datos se obtuvieron de los exámenes de salud anuales. Se seleccionaron 515 trabajadores, estableciendo una relación de 1:3 (por turnos / sin turnos). Se recogieron como variables resultado: SMet, hipertensión arterial, obesidad, adiposidad abdominal y alteraciones bioquímicas (glucosa, colesterol total, colesterol HDL, triglicéridos y ácido úrico). Las variables explicativas fueron: edad, sexo, consumo de tabaco, actividad física y turnicidad. Aparte de los descriptivos habituales, se realizó una regresión logística bivariada cruda y otra ajustada, determinando valores de Odds Ratio (OR) con IC al 95%. RESULTADOS: La regresión logística cruda mostró que los trabajadores por turnos realizaban menor actividad física (OR=0,22; IC 95%=0,14-0,35; p<0,001) y tenían niveles de colesterol HDL más bajos (OR=2,1; IC 95%=1,2-3,8; p<0,05), así como mayor tasa de hipertrigliceridemia (OR=2,05; IC 95%=1,3-3,2; p<0,01) e hiperuricemia (OR=2,7; IC 95%=0,9-2,7; p<0,001). En la regresión logística ajustada por edad, sexo, consumo de tabaco, actividad física y turnicidad, sólo se mantuvo la asociación entre trabajo por turnos e hiperuricemia (OR=2,25; IC 95%=1,1-4,6; p<0,05), así como con menor actividad física moderada/alta (OR=0,19; IC 95%=0,12-0,31; p<0,001). CONCLUSIONES: No se encuentra asociación entre turnicidad y un mayor nivel de tabaquismo o un mayor riesgo cardiovascular. Sí se evidencia asociación con niveles de ácido úrico altos y menor actividad física moderada/alta.

El ejercicio recomendado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud controla el Índice de Masa Corporal en trabajadores sedentarios: estudio transversal en una industria química española / The exercise recommended by World Health Organization controls Body Mass Index in sedentary workers: cross-sectional study in a Spanish chemical industry

Para combatir la inactividad física la OMS establece unas recomendaciones y estimula a adaptarlas y estudiar sus efectos en distintas poblaciones. OBJETIVOS: Comprobar si trabajadores sedentarios del sector químico, que cumplen con las recomendaciones de ejercicio mínimo de la OMS tienen menor IMC y niveles de colesterol y triglicéridos que aquellos que no cumplen con estas recomendaciones. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal sobre 184 empleados varones. Se siguieron las recomendaciones STROBE. Aparte de los descriptivos habituales se usaron los test Chi-cuadrado de independencia y T de Student, así como un método multivariante, la Segmentación CHAID (Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection). RESULTADOS: Se observó una relación altamente significativa (p = 0,004) entre los trabajadores que realizaban ejercicio cumpliendo los requisitos mínimos de la OMS y el IMC normal. Si no se alcanzaba este mínimo, la relación, aunque menor, seguía siendo significativa (p = 0,041). Se encontró significación entre el IMC normal y el colesterol y triglicéridos normales (p = 0,034 y p = 0,033 respectivamente). CONCLUSIONES: El principal factor que predice el IMC en este grupo es que la actividad física alcance los criterios mínimos recomendados por la OMS, independientemente de si los trabajadores tienen puestos activos o sedentarios

To combat physical inactivity, the WHO sets out recommendations and encourages adaptation and study of their effects on different populations. OBJECTIVE: To check whether sedentary workers in the chemical sector, who comply with the WHO’s minimum exercise recommendations, have lower BMI and cholesterol and triglyceride levels than those who do not comply with these recommendations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study on 184 male employees. The STROBE recommendations were followed. In addition to the usual descriptive tests, we used the Chi-Squared Independence Test and the Student T test, as well as a multivariate method, the CHAID Segmentation (Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection). RESULTS: A highly significant relationship (p = 0.004) was observed between workers who exercised in compliance with the WHO minimum requirements and normal BMI. If this minimum was not reached, the relation, although lower, was still significant (p = 0.041). Significance was found between normal BMI and normal cholesterol and triglycerides (p = 0.034 and p = 0.033 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The main factor predicting BMI in this group is that physical activity meets the minimum criteria recommended by the WHO, regardless of whether workers are active or sedentary