Impact of Secondary Prevention in an Occupational High-Risk Group. Issue 1 (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Welch, Laura S.; Dement, John; Ringen, Knut; Cranford, Kim; Quinn, Patricia S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 59:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000925
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Background: A study of medical outcomes among 6857 elderly construction workers who received an initial and at least one periodic follow-up examination as a result of participating in a medical screening program was undertaken. Methods: We compared results from the initial examination to follow-up examinations delivered at least 3 years after the initial examination for the following outcomes: body mass index (BMI); total serum cholesterol; nonhigh-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol; hemoglobin A1c, hypertension; current cigarette smoking; and 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores. Results: Statistically significant improvements ( P < 0.05) were observed for all measures except BMI. Conclusions: Participation in a periodic medical screening program for elderly construction workers is associated with a favorable impact on common health outcomes. When presented with a program designed for them, blue-collar workers are motivated to seek improvements in their health status.