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Cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk assessment in professional divers
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Abstract
Materials and methods: In one medical centre, data on dives and cardiovascular risk factors were analysed on Epidata® software, by Pearson c2 test or by Fisher’s exact test, by analysis of variance test or by Kruskal-Wallis test, and by Spearman correlation coefficient. Cardiovascular risk scores at 5 and 10 years were calculated using SCORE.
Results: A total 200 professional divers were included. Of these, 31% were smokers or had stopped smoking for less than 3 years; 40% had an abnormal body mass index; 50% had raised total cholesterol levels; 11% had an advanced age; 6.5% had high blood pressure; 81% had at least one risk factor; 66% had an alterable risk factor; 25.5% had a 5-year risk greater than that of the general population of the same age; 2.5% had a high cardiovascular risk at 10 years; and 34% were at intermediate risk.
Conclusions: The majority of divers had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Cardiovascular risk scores were lower than that of the general population. However, some of this population is at high risk. One third of the divers had an intermediate risk, which should lead to the consideration of conducting additional biological examinations to better assess their risk.
Abstract
Materials and methods: In one medical centre, data on dives and cardiovascular risk factors were analysed on Epidata® software, by Pearson c2 test or by Fisher’s exact test, by analysis of variance test or by Kruskal-Wallis test, and by Spearman correlation coefficient. Cardiovascular risk scores at 5 and 10 years were calculated using SCORE.
Results: A total 200 professional divers were included. Of these, 31% were smokers or had stopped smoking for less than 3 years; 40% had an abnormal body mass index; 50% had raised total cholesterol levels; 11% had an advanced age; 6.5% had high blood pressure; 81% had at least one risk factor; 66% had an alterable risk factor; 25.5% had a 5-year risk greater than that of the general population of the same age; 2.5% had a high cardiovascular risk at 10 years; and 34% were at intermediate risk.
Conclusions: The majority of divers had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Cardiovascular risk scores were lower than that of the general population. However, some of this population is at high risk. One third of the divers had an intermediate risk, which should lead to the consideration of conducting additional biological examinations to better assess their risk.
Keywords
risk factors; coronary disease/epidemiology; occupational diseases/ /epidemiology; diving; prevalence
About this articleTitle
Cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk assessment in professional divers
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
164-169
Published online
2012-11-06
Page views
849
Article views/downloads
1717
Bibliographic record
IMH 2012;63(3):164-169.
Keywords
risk factors
coronary disease/epidemiology
occupational diseases/ /epidemiology
diving
prevalence
Authors
Richard Pougnet
Laurence Di Costanzo
Brice Loddé
Anne Henckes
Laura Dherbecourt
David Lucas
Dominique Jegaden
Jean-Dominique Dewitte
