Health workers: cardiovascular risk and occupational stress.

BACKGROUND: Work might cause severe physical stress associated with emotional overload, especially among hospital employees. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and occupational stress among employees of a teaching hospital. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted with 45 employees of a philanthropic health institution in the central area of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data collection was performed to analyze anthropometric variables, blood pressure, biochemical markers and indicators of health and occupational stress. RESULTS: 60.0% of the participants reported sedentary behavior. Analysis of non-modifiable risk factors showed that 55.6% of the sample had family history (mother and father) of hypertension, 22.2% of myocardial infarction and stroke and 13.3% of diabetes. Body mass index categories overweight and obesity predominated (55.5%); 73.4% of the sample was categorized as with moderate-to-high risk to health based on the waist-to-hip ratio; the body fat percentage was above normal or indicated tendency to obesity for 73.3% of the participants. About 71.1% of the sample exhibited excellent or normal blood pressure. Total cholesterol was high or borderline for 88.9% of the sample. On assessment of occupational risk, 55.5% of the participants were categorized as with intermediate degree of exposure. CONCLUSION: The results point to the relevance of health policies to promote lifestyle changes in and outside the workplace with consequent impact on the physical and mental state of workers.

INTRODUÇÃO: A atividade laboral pode trazer consigo profundo estresse físico associado à sobrecarga emocional sobretudo em trabalhadores no ambiente hospitalar. OBJETIVO: Buscou-se identificar os fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares e estresse ocupacional em profissionais de um hospital de ensino. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 45 trabalhadores de uma instituição de saúde filantrópica da região central do Rio Grande do Sul. A coleta de dados seguiu com base na premissa de avaliar variáveis antropométricas, pressão arterial, marcadores bioquímicos, indicadores de saúde e estresse ocupacional. RESULTADOS: Dos participantes, 60,0% autorreferiram-se sedentários. A avaliação dos fatores de risco não modificáveis mostrou que 55,6% dos participantes apresentavam histórico familiar (pai e mãe) com hipertensão, 22,2% com infarto e acidente vascular cerebral e 13,3% com diabetes. Houve predominância dos indivíduos com sobrepeso ou obesidade no quesito índice de massa corporal (55,5%): 73,4% apresentaram relação cintura-quadril de moderado a alto risco para a saúde e 73,3% estavam com percentual de gordura acima do normal e tendência à obesidade. 71,1% dos avaliados apresentaram pressão arterial entre ótima e normal. Os marcadores bioquímicos apontaram 88,9% dos participantes apresentando colesterol total nas faixas limítrofe ou alta. Na avaliação do estresse ocupacional, 55,5% dos trabalhadores encontram-se no grupo de exposição intermediária. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados encontrados ressaltam a importância de políticas de saúde que incentivem a mudança do estilo de vida dentro e fora do trabalho, com impacto direto nas condições de saúde física e mental dos trabalhadores.

Trichomonas vaginalis PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL.

Trichomonas vaginalis infections have been associated with other diseases so that epidemiological studies of the parasite are important and help to prevent the spread of the disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis in female patients of 19 counties in southwestern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For diagnosis, was used direct examination, followed by applying a socio-epidemiological questionnaire. We analyzed 300 women and 9% were infected by Trichomonas vaginalis. The highest frequency occurred in women between 18 and 39 years old, single/divorced/widowed, whose family income was at one minimum wage or less, and they had not completed the primary school. Statistically significant risk factors were: women reporting two or more sexual partners in the last year were 3.3 times more likely to acquire the parasite, and those in use of oral contraceptives were 2.7 times more likely to have T. vaginalis. Importantly, 33% of the asymptomatic women were infected, and most of the negative results were from women presenting symptoms consistent with the infection. The findings emphasize that it is necessary to expand the knowledge of individuals about the disease, especially among women with the above mentioned risk factors and also to include the regular screening of Trichomonas vaginalis infections in health centers.

Trabalhadores da saúde: risco cardiovascular e estresse ocupacional / Health workers: cardiovascular risk and occupational stress

INTRODUÇÃO: A atividade laboral pode trazer consigo profundo estresse físico associado à sobrecarga emocional sobretudo em trabalhadores no ambiente hospitalar. OBJETIVO: Buscou-se identificar os fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares e estresse ocupacional em profissionais de um hospital de ensino. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 45 trabalhadores de uma instituição de saúde filantrópica da região central do Rio Grande do Sul. A coleta de dados seguiu com base na premissa de avaliar variáveis antropométricas, pressão arterial, marcadores bioquímicos, indicadores de saúde e estresse ocupacional. RESULTADOS: Dos participantes, 60,0% autorreferiram-se sedentários. A avaliação dos fatores de risco não modificáveis mostrou que 55,6% dos participantes apresentavam histórico familiar (pai e mãe) com hipertensão, 22,2% com infarto e acidente vascular cerebral e 13,3% com diabetes. Houve predominância dos indivíduos com sobrepeso ou obesidade no quesito índice de massa corporal (55,5%): 73,4% apresentaram relação cintura-quadril de moderado a alto risco para a saúde e 73,3% estavam com percentual de gordura acima do normal e tendência à obesidade. 71,1% dos avaliados apresentaram pressão arterial entre ótima e normal. Os marcadores bioquímicos apontaram 88,9% dos participantes apresentando colesterol total nas faixas limítrofe ou alta. Na avaliação do estresse ocupacional, 55,5% dos trabalhadores encontram-se no grupo de exposição intermediária. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados encontrados ressaltam a importância de políticas de saúde que incentivem a mudança do estilo de vida dentro e fora do trabalho, com impacto direto nas condições de saúde física e mental dos trabalhadores.

BACKGROUND: Work might cause severe physical stress associated with emotional overload, especially among hospital employees. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and occupational stress among employees of a teaching hospital. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted with 45 employees of a philanthropic health institution in the central area of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data collection was performed to analyze anthropometric variables, blood pressure, biochemical markers and indicators of health and occupational stress. RESULTS: 60.0% of the participants reported sedentary behavior. Analysis of non-modifiable risk factors showed that 55.6% of the sample had family history (mother and father) of hypertension, 22.2% of myocardial infarction and stroke and 13.3% of diabetes. Body mass index categories overweight and obesity predominated (55.5%); 73.4% of the sample was categorized as with moderate-to-high risk to health based on the waist-to-hip ratio; the body fat percentage was above normal or indicated tendency to obesity for 73.3% of the participants. About 71.1% of the sample exhibited excellent or normal blood pressure. Total cholesterol was high or borderline for 88.9% of the sample. On assessment of occupational risk, 55.5% of the participants were categorized as with intermediate degree of exposure. CONCLUSION: The results point to the relevance of health policies to promote lifestyle changes in and outside the workplace with consequent impact on the physical and mental state of workers.