Vol 62, No 3 (2010)
Editorial
Published online: 2010-12-06
Cardiovascular diseases in modern maritime industry
IMH 2010;62(3):101-106.
Abstract
Acute cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main natural causes of death in industrialized countries
- both at sea and on land. Seafarers face very specific job-related cardiac risk factors, such
as time pressure, long working hours, or high stress factors onboard [1, 2]. Taking into consideration
the healthy worker effect of seafarers, cardiac risk factors are shown to occur slightly more
frequently in seafarers than in the general population. Owing to the lack of health professionals
onboard and the limited treatment options of events at sea, effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation
is often delayed and the outcome of cardiac events may be worse compared to that in other
occupations ashore.
Seafarers’ medical surveillance examinations should be used more intensively as an opportunity for education of crews in CVD risks and the possibilities to reduce them. Further, enhancement of treatment options (e.g. by implementation of advanced therapy and diagnostics such as telemedicine or AED onboard) may contribute to improved CVD prognosis at sea.
Seafarers’ medical surveillance examinations should be used more intensively as an opportunity for education of crews in CVD risks and the possibilities to reduce them. Further, enhancement of treatment options (e.g. by implementation of advanced therapy and diagnostics such as telemedicine or AED onboard) may contribute to improved CVD prognosis at sea.
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