[The actual issues of detection of risk factors and prevention of myocardium infarction in sailors].

In Russia, increases morbidity of myocardial infarction. The statistics of recent years demonstrate failure in meeting target indicators of national programs on reducing number of deaths from this disease. At that, able-bodied population is in high risk zone and their professional activity is under influence of large combination of risk factors of myocardial infarction. This risk area covers profession of seafarer that is characterized by irregular work schedule, high levels of stress and mental tension, low physical activity or, contrariwise, increased working loads, unbalanced diet, isotherm stress and interaction with harmful substances. Besides that, situation is aggravated by limited set of first medical aid measures at exacerbation of disease in view of remoteness from hospitalization centers. Thus, considering high mortality rate from myocardial infarction, it is extremely important for ship crews to have full and timely information about diagnostic, symptomatic and prevention of this disease. The article examines statistics data of morbidity and mortality of myocardial infarction in population of the Russian Federation on the basis of Rosstat data and target indicators of the National project "Health Care". The risk factors of myocardial infarction established by INTERHEART studies are analyzed. The specifics of work conditions of crew members of marine vessels are established. The collection of professional modifying risk factors was selected. The recommendations for their correction were developed to enhance efficiency of primary preventive measures and to decrease morbidity and mortality among seafarers.

[The problematic issues of regulation and organization of labor safety of sailors as factor impacting life quality and health].

In modern conditions of maritime navigation, protection of lives of crew members plays key role for their health and quality of life. The practice testifies that shipowners underestimate real statistics of occupational injuries, since procedure for its management and investigation of accidents on ships are not sufficiently regulated in international and national legislation. Besides, approaches of shipowners to implementation of existing standards also have different levels of responsibility that leaves measures preventing such incidents unreasonably underestimated. This situation results in increasing of occupational injuries on ships and allows shipowners or insurance companies to avoid proper payments to injured sailor or his family members in case of one's death. The complexity of implementation of "belated" medical expertise to determine cause of death or injury of crew member also makes it difficult to obtain positive result of recognition of disability or death of sailor as result of occupational traumatism. All the described above testifies importance and actuality of stated research topic. The article examines in detail normative acts regulating protection of labor and life and medical care of sailors. Also are considered causes, factors and types of occupational traumatism on ships. The accident statistics and procedure of their investigation are analyzed in relation to maritime practice. The issues of medical expertise are studied and main problematic issues are identified. The recommendations for their solution are formulated.

[Measures to preserve the mental health of sailors when working on autonomous surface vessels].

Currently, all sectors of the national economy are subject to rapid processes of digital transformation, which requires the restructuring of both production processes and the improvement of the personnel selection system. The field of maritime transport is no exception, which has recently been focused on the active development of autonomous maritime shipping. The introduction of autonomous ships into operation radically changes the working conditions of ship crew members, including due to a significant reduction in their number. As a result, in the near future, seafarers will be forced not only to work in difficult conditions caused by maritime specifics, but also to experience the additional impact of a limited ship crew. The lack of necessary skills and training among current ship crew members to work in the new realities, as well as the high risk of impairment of their mental health, shows the objective need to find new approaches to the training and selection of seafarers. In order to develop recommendations for improving the rules for training, recruiting and selecting seafarers to work in conditions of a limited ship crew, the article studied regulations and levels of autonomy of sea surface vessels. A survey was conducted among active sailors, which made it possible to identify key problems on the stated issues, and also studied the types of temperament, personality and accentuation.

[Inadequate first medical aid on board a sea vessel as a risk factor for crew members' health].

Currently, one of the most important health and social problems in the world is the constant increase in injuries and deaths at work. Statistics show that timely provision of first aid to victims has a positive effect on further medical support and a reduction in the number of deaths. First aid for crew members of sea vessels is a set of simple medical actions performed by seafarers directly on board the ship, as soon as possible after an injury or illness. As a rule, it is associated with emergency resuscitation of the victim. The lack of necessary skills and training among current ship crew members to carry out first aid operations shows an objective need to develop recommendatory measures to revise the current training system.

Navigating the depths: exploring seafarers' psychological well-being on board, anchored by the mediating role of resilience and loneliness.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates seafarers' loneliness as a mediating variable between psychological well-being and resilience, and tests resilience as a mediating variable between psychological well-being and loneliness. It also examines the challenges faced by seafarers on different types of ships and evaluates the mediating roles of resilience and loneliness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research uses descriptive data analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis with bootstrap-based regression models. An online survey was conducted with 471 active Turkish seafarers using a sociodemographic questionnaire and three standardized scales measuring psychological well-being (PW), loneliness at work (LAW), and psychological resilience (PR). Data were collected between 01/07/2023 and 01/09/2023. RESULTS: The findings indicate that ship type is a significant factor in the mediating roles of loneliness at work and psychological resilience. There is a partial mediating role of loneliness at work and resilience in psychological well-being across different ship types. Specifically, loneliness at work partially mediates the relationship between psychological resilience and psychological well-being among seafarers on tanker or bulk carrier vessels, but not on container vessels. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes with suggestions to address the mental health challenges faced by seafarers, emphasizing the importance of ship type in the mediating roles of loneliness and resilience. Regarding the mediating role of loneliness at work, it has been determined that there is partial mediation between psychological resilience and psychological well-being among seafarers working on tanker or bulk carrier vessels. However, on container vessels, loneliness at work does not mediate the relationship between psychological well-being and psychological resilience. Based on these findings, the authors conclude by offering a range of helpful solutions to address this problem.

Maritime accidents in the estuary of the River Seine from 2009-2019.

BACKGROUND: In confined waters, ships run a high risk of groundings, contact, sinkings and near misses. In such waters the maritime traffic is dense, the waterway is narrow, the depth is limited, and tides and currents are constantly changing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2009-2019, 75 accidents were investigated in the estuary of the Seine. Weather conditions and perceived fatigue were studied. From May to June 2020, 114 seafarers, 34 pilots and 80 captains, responded to a questionnaire focusing on the use of Pilot Portable Units (PPU) and Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS). RESULTS: The 75 accidents corresponded to an average of 6.8 ± 3.2 accidents per year. Groundings were the most frequent accidents (35%, n = 26) followed by contact accidents with the quayside (25%, n = 19), between ships or tugs while manoeuvring (8%, n = 6) or while sailing (1%, n = 1). There was no loss of vessels nor fatalities of crew members. In poor weather conditions, there were 76% more accidents than in normal conditions (4.4 ± 2.5 accidents/10,000 movements versus 2.5 ± 1.9 accidents/10,000 movements, p < 0.03). Almost all the accidents (96%) were related to human errors of judgment (81%), or negligence (53%), or both (39). Perceived fatigue was probably in cause in 6 accidents. Only 3 accidents were related to mechanical causes. Through the questionnaires, 69% of the pilots complained of difficulties in mastering the devices and software. They felt distracted by alarms which affected their attention while navigating. They requested training on a simulator. Concerning ship captains, 83% felt comfortable with ECDIS devices yet only 20% were able to configure the ECDIS correctly. CONCLUSIONS: In the Seine estuary, 75 accidents occurred within the 11 year-study. Risk factors were poor weather conditions and human error. PPU and ECDIS were considered as useful tools in the prevention of accidents. However, pilots and captains requested more thorough training in their use.

Invitation to do remission of pre-diabetes to normoglycemia.

By integrating health coaching into maritime medical clinics, we can provide tailored support to individuals at risk of developing diabetes and empower them to take control of their health.

What is known about cardiovascular diseases among seafarers: A systematic scoping review and quality assessment.

BACKGROUND: Seafarers are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), potentially due to a stressful working environment and behavioral risk factors. To develop better prevention strategies, it is important to elucidate the extent of this risk. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on CVD in seafarers. METHOD: We conducted systematic searches in five databases. All studies investigating CVDs among occupational seafarers, published in articles or conference papers, were eligible for inclusion. The identified records were screened and reviewed by two independent researchers, who also evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS: Three thousand nine hundred and seventeen records qualified for screening, and 55 were eligible for inclusion. Most of the studies were observational, including cohort, frequency, incidence or prevalence studies, and review of case records. Around half were assessed at risk of biased findings. Participants in the studies were primarily from North America or the European continent and work onboard transportation vessels. Many studies investigated CVDs as a cause of death, focusing on conditions such as CVD, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Frequency of CVD conditions varied but indicate that seafarers face a greater risk compared to the reference populations or control groups. Environmental factors were mainly investigated as risk factors. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a higher risk of CVDs among seafarers compared to reference or control groups. However, due to the variable quality of the evidence, well-designed studies are needed to establish the causes of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in seafarers and to investigate behavioral aspects of cardiovascular risk.

Aggression, psychological violence and sexual harassment in seafarers in France.

BACKGROUND: In a working environment that is predominantly male, very tough physically, with a difficult working environment, occupational exposures and working, verbal and physical aggression can be more frequent than in other sectors. Fishing, merchant shipping and yachting are all sectors where fitness to sail is reassessed every year by doctors in the Seafarers' Health Service. Seafarers are increasingly reporting insulting, violent or sexist behaviour. The main types of abuse seen on board can be verbal and/or physical aggression, humiliation, whether in private or in front of others. Sexual harassment of women is a very worrying subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective observational study which is part of the professional monitoring of seafarers. The target population was adult seafarers coming for a fitness to sail visit. The group was recruited from seafarers aged over 18 who were being monitored by one of the seafarers' health services (or local centres). The inclusion period was 4 months between January and April 2023. All the information was collected using a self-questionnaire developed from the questionnaires of the Surveillance Médicale des Expositions des Salariés au Risques Professionnels (SUMER) for health status, job satisfaction and the European mini-module, verbal and physical aggression and psychological violence at work (based on the Leymann questionnaire), sexual violence and aggression based on the sexual harassment questionnaire and the PCLS-5 scale validated and translated into French to assess post-traumatic stress. The population studied was therefore 788 sailors. RESULTS: The study population was predominantly male (82.3%). The average age was 41.4 years (standard deviation = 11.7). 46.7% of seafarers estimate being in very good health. During the past 12 months, overall, 24.5% of seafarers disclaimed having been victim in work-related context of a verbal aggression, with a significant difference according to the gender (21.1% for men and 41.0% for women). During the last 12 months, overall, 3.2% of seafarers have been victim in work-related context of a physical aggression (2.6% for men and 5.8% for women, NS), whereas 10.9% of seafarers reported hostile behaviour at present. Twenty per cent of seafarers reported sexual harassment in the last 12 months. During the entire working life of seafarers, 65.5% of women and 38.2% of men reported sexual harassment, and 38.8% of seafarers stated that they had experienced at least one traumatic event in the last 12 months. DISCUSSION: A quarter of seafarers say they have been the victim of verbal or physical aggression at work in the last twelve months. These figures are high, and higher than those of the global survey on violence and harassment at work carried out by the International Labour Organization. One of the most alarming results of our study is the overexposure of women working in the maritime industry to the risk of physical, verbal or sexual assault of any kind. Indeed, in all the questions concerning the experience of verbal and physical aggression, the number of women victims is twice as high as that of their male colleagues, and this difference is statistically significant. As far as prevention is concerned, it seems that an effort is needed in terms of information, since only one seafarer in two knows the procedure to follow in the event of aggression within their shipyard. Communication between shipowners and seafarers needs to be stepped up to ensure that everyone is familiar with the procedures.

Maritime Applications of Prolonged Casualty Care Sepsis on a Destroyer During Distributed Maritime Operations.

During distributed maritime operations, individual components of the naval force are more geographically dispersed. As the U.S. Navy further develops this concept, smaller vessels may be operating at a significant time and distance away from more advanced medical capabilities. Therefore, during both current and future contested Distributed Maritime Operations, Role 1 maritime caregivers such as Independent Duty Corpsman will have to manage patients for prolonged periods of time. This manuscript presents an innovative approach to teaching complex operational medicine concepts (including Prolonged Casualty Care [PCC]) to austere Role 1 maritime caregivers using a hypothetical scenario involving a patient with sepsis and septic shock. The scenario incorporates the Joint Trauma System PCC Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and other standard references. The scenario includes a stem clinical vignette, expected clinical changes for the affected patient at specific time points (e.g., time 0, 1, 2, and 48h), and expected interventions based on the PCC CPG and available shipboard equipment. Epidemiology of sepsis in the deployed environment is also reviewed. This process also identifies opportunities to improve training, clinical skills sustainment, and standard shipboard medical supplies.

The operational development of diagnostic seasickness criteria through a human cyber-physical system.

Thresholds that guide diagnoses of probable and acceptable seasickness levels on board ships are scarcely reported in literature. Motion sickness incidence and motion sickness dose value thresholds exist, but are defined for specific environments, such as naval, or offered merely as optional criteria for ship performance metrics. The presented work communicates a novel means of developing seasickness diagnostic criteria during ship operation, based on observations from shipboard measurement systems and seafarers using an innovative platform. The innovative platform provides personalised seasickness criteria that are accessible during ship operation to estimate the probable level of seasickness on board. Results are compared to that from a traditional method of data acquisition and analyses, post operation, revealing a similar trend in diagnostic threshold magnitudes (13-85 m/s1.5) that can be applicable to voyages with different durations (0.5-6 hr) considering desired levels of seasickness (10-50 %). The seasickness criteria are envisioned to be pertinent for the prediction of probable seasickness levels based on sea state forecasts and ship motion estimation.

Musculoskeletal disorders of fishermen in the artisanal and coastal sector.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to screen for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) complaints, to analyse the activity and to identify their risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional epidemiological study involved 903 men aged > 20 years and with a seniority > 2 years. It included a questionnaire and an ergonomic analysis of the activity. The questionnaire included: socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, health status and life habits, stress and items from the Nordic questionnaire. The observation of work situations required video recordings and the use of three methods: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Gesture Tracking and Assessment Tool (Outil de Repérage et d'Évaluation des Gestes: OREGE). RESULTS: The prevalence of MSDs was 61.9%. It was significantly higher among deckhands than among other professionals (65.6% vs 27.4%; p < 0.001) and in seasonal workers than in permanent workers (67.8% vs 43.1%; p < 0.001). A positive correlation was noted between MSDs and daily work duration. Stress was an aggravating factor, whereas leisure activities were protective. The prevalence of MSDs was 40.5% (lower back), 40.4% (wrist/hand joints), 34.6% (neck) and 31.7% (shoulders). The ergonomic analysis of the workstation was performed on a deckhand who unloaded the fish crates out of the hold of a trawler. OSHA score = 12 (normal < 5); significant risk of upper limb MSD. RULA total score = 7 (acceptable between 1 and 2); immediate modification. OREGE scores evaluating effort, repetitiveness and joint positions indicate that the actions were not recommended or to be avoided. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis made it possible to evaluate the difficulty of the job and to note a high risk of MSDs requiring ergonomic and organizational improvements.

Characteristics of Polish travellers admitted at the University Centre of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Poland, 2023.

BACKGROUND: After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, people started to travel again. Each year, thousands of Poles travel internationally, and many travel to tropical or subtropical destinations in Asia, Africa or South America. The aim of this article was to describe the characteristics of Polish travellers based on the information from a retrospective 12-month review of the medical records of Polish patients seeking pre-travel advice at the largest diagnostic and treatment travel medicine centre in Poland in 2023. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective study was based on the analysis of medical records of 2,147 patients seeking pre-travel advice at the University Centre of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Poland, between January and December 2023. The study focused on the analysis of the following patients' variables: age, sex, travel details (purpose of travel, length of travel, departure month, continents and countries to be visited). It also aimed to evaluate the range of prevention measures which were either recommended or administered to patients seeking pre-travel advice at the clinic (preventive vaccinations, chemoprophylaxis). In addition, it assessed the health status of the patients presenting at the travel medicine clinic; retrospective health assessments were based on the information from the interviews with the patients. RESULTS: Patients who sought pre-travel advice were mostly aged 36-65 years (49.5%), they were travelling for tourism purposes (78.3%), for a maximum period of 4 weeks (79.0%), mostly in November (15.2%) or in January (14.9%). Most travellers planned to visit Asia (55.5%) or Africa (29.0%); mainly Thailand (21.5%), Vietnam (8.5%), Kenya (8.3%) or India (8.2%). The most frequently administered immunoprophylaxis included vaccinations against typhoid fever and hepatitis A. Other commonly recommended/prescribed prevention measures included: insect repellents (69.3%), sunscreen (58.3%), antimalarials (35.8%), antithrombotic drugs (32.6%), and antidiarrheal drugs (25.6%). The analysis of patient interviews demonstrated that 61.8% of the travellers consulted at the clinic had no pre-existing medical conditions, while 38.2% required the use of chronic medications, mainly for allergies (14.3%), thyroid disorders (13.6%), cardiovascular diseases (9.3%), or psychiatric disorders (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A large number of Polish travellers visit destinations where the risk of infectious and non-infectious diseases is high. Providing patients with professional advice during a pre-travel consultation will help protect against travel-associated health problems.

Self-reported diabetes mellitus among seafarers: occupational and sociodemographic predictors.

BACKGROUND: Seafarers are at increased risk of diabetes due to their lifestyle and working conditions on board ships. There is, however, limited evidence regarding the magnitude of diabetes and its risk factors. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of self-reported diabetes among seafarers on board ships and identify risk factors associated with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted among seafarers aboard ships between November and December 2022. The study enrolled a total of 4,500 seafarers aged 18 and older. Data were collected using anonymous, standardized questionnaires. The association between the outcome variable and the independent variables was assessed using binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: In total, 2,986 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of self-reported diabetes among seafarers was found to be 8.2% (95% CI: 7.2-9.2). Self-reported diabetes prevalence among officers and non-officers was 7% and 9%, respectively. The mean age of study participants was 37.96 ± 10.22, while the mean age of participants with diabetes was 47.5 ± 9.46. Independent predictors of self-reported diabetes mellitus were age (51+ years) [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-8.95], rank (non-officer) [AOR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.14-2.40], worksites (engine) (AOR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.19-3.77), work experience (10-20 years) (AOR: 4.66, 95% CI: 2.33-10.05), work experience (21+ years) (AOR: 5.01, 95% CI: 2.32-11.55), working hours per week (57-70 hours) (AOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.08-2.31), working hours per week (71+ hours) (AOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.17-2.80), self-reported hypertension (AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03-1.99), overweight (AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.24-2.47), and obesity (AOR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.84-4.65). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that one in twelve seafarers between the ages of 19 and 70 have self-reported diabetes. The present study identified significant risk factors associated with diabetes. Risk factor mitigation strategies aimed at high-risk groups should be implemented on board ships.

[The medical care of seamen of civil shipping: the role of non-commercial organizations].

According to the International Labor Organization, health protection and access to medical treatment are to be guaranteed to seamen in the same way as to people working ashore. However, in practice, formal measures and mechanisms do not always make it possible to provide medical care to crew members of civil vessels due to peculiarities of legal systems of the States in whose territorial waters the vessel is located, remoteness of the vessel from coastline and objective situation that permits to receiving medical care from the shore. As far as possible these problems are resolved by non-profit organizations of seamen. The overview of their activities is presented in this article.

Trends in the medical repatriation of Filipino seafarers: a ten year study of a Philippine maritime shipping company (OSM Maritime).

BACKGROUND: Seafarers, confronted with unique health challenges, occasionally necessitate medical repatriation. This study examines the trends in medical repatriation cases among Filipino seafarers employed by OSM Maritime shipping company over a 10-year period from 2013 to 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of OSM Maritime seafarers were reviewed, obtaining causes for and dates of medical repatriation. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) was utilised to classify repatriation cases. Proportion of repatriation cases were calculated and their annual trends were analysed. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that the majority of repatriation cases are attributed to injury/trauma (19.91%), musculoskeletal (18.40%), gastrointestinal (16.56%), cardiovascular (8.77%), infectious (6.82%), and genitourinary conditions (5.30%). Significantly, the study identifies a declining trend in the proportion of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary conditions in annual repatriation cases, particularly in ischaemic heart conditions, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and urinary calculus. CONCLUSIONS: These results emphasize the critical need for multisectoral collaboration to enhance seafarers' health and well-being. Prioritizing comprehensive care programmes, ensuring safe working conditions, and exploring holistic healthcare initiatives are essential steps to enhance seafarers' occupational health.

Health risk classification patterns among Filipino seafarers. Analysis from a pre-employment clinic in the Philippines: a 5-year review.

BACKGROUND: Seafaring is a demanding profession that exposes individuals to unique health risks and challenges. This study investigates risk classification patterns among seafarers who underwent physical and medical examination at the Nordic Medical Clinic, a pre-employment clinic in the Philippines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis involved data obtained from medical records, including demographic information, diagnoses, medical risk classification, corresponding management, and occupational details. medical risk classification, based on guidelines from the Philippine Department of Labour and Employment, categorised fit to work seafarers into risk class A, B, or C. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05, were utilised for data analysis using R Studio (version 4.2.3). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 11,831 seafarers seen at the Nordic Medical Clinic between 2018 and 2022. The results revealed a significant proportion of seafarers falling into higher risk classifications, with risk class C being the most prevalent at 48.16%. Pre-employment medical examinations (PEME) to fit to work duration demonstrated a significant association with risk classification, revealing that lower-risk classes had shorter fit-to-work times compared to higher-risk classes. Moreover, risk classification exhibited uneven distribution across specific demographic and occupational characteristics, with older seafarers, males, married individuals, and those in higher-ranking positions having a higher proportion of risk class C. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need for comprehensive and customised pre-boarding medical screening standards for seafarers based on factors such as their specific role, vessel type, voyage, contract length, and work location. Moreover, health implementation of health promotion and preventive strategies that are based on the specific occupational and demographic needs of the seafarers are needed.

Prevalence of arterial hypertension in Vietnamese seafarers aboard merchant vessels: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. It is a major risk factor for major cardiovascular events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, kidney failure, and blindness. The aim of this research is to assess the prevalence and some factors related to arterial hypertension on Vietnamese seafarers aboard merchant vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven hundred eight Vietnamese seafarers working aboard merchant ships were examined at the Institute of Marine Medicine before going to sea during the period from January 2022 to December 2022. It was a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study. The following parameters were measured: blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, buttock circumference to assess the prevalence of hypertension, overweight, and obesity. Seafarers we directly interviewed about workplace on ships and physical exercise, smoking tobacco, alcohol abuse, and anxiety symptoms to identify several factors associated with hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in seafarers was 32.9%, prehypertension 26.4%, overweight 32.4%, obesity 13.3%, abdominal obesity 47.7%. Factors related to hypertension of seafarers included: job duration at sea > 10 years, odds ratio (OR) = 8.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.34-17.27); non-officers, OR = 2.11 (95% CI 1.45-2.82); engine room crew, OR = 2.11 (95% CI 1.45-3.58); obesity, OR = 3.34 (95% CI 2.15-5.63); abdominal obesity, OR = 9.12 (95% CI 4.23-18.45); current smoking, OR = 1.32 (95% CI 1.02-1.99); irregular exercise, OR =1.43 (95% CI 1.03-2.18); anxiety symptoms, OR = 1.56 (95% CI 1.08-2.27). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is a health problem for Vietnamese seafarers. To minimise hypertension, seafarers need to adjust their lifestyle, increase regular exercise and improve psychological issues on board.