Vol 62, No 3 (2010)
Original article
Published online: 2010-12-06
Cardiovascular disease mortality in British merchant shipping and among British seafarers ashore in Britain
IMH 2010;62(3):107-116.
Abstract
Background. The objective was to investigate trends in work-related mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) among seafarers employed in British merchant shipping from 1919 to 2005, to compare CVD mortality among British seafarers at work in British shipping - and ashore in Britain - with that in the general British population, and to investigate work-related CVD mortality in British shipping during recent years according to factors such as rank, nationality, location, and type of ship.
Material and methods. A longitudinal study based on examination of death inquiry files and death registers, official death returns, and information from occupational mortality decennial supplements. The main outcome measures were population-based mortality rates and standardised mortality ratios.
Results. There was an increase in work-related CVD mortality throughout much of the period from 1919 to 1962, but a subsequent reduction to 2005. Work-related mortality from CVD and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was lower among seafarers employed in British shipping than in the corresponding general population (SMRs = 0.35 to 0.46), but mortality from CVD among British seafarers ashore in Britain was often increased. An elevated risk of work-related CVD mortality was also identified among the crews of North Sea offshore ships.
Conclusions. This study shows a healthy worker effect against CVD mortality among seafarers at work in British shipping, but increased risks among British seafarers ashore in Britain, which would include seafarers discharged through CVD morbidity and other illnesses. The high risks of CVD mortality among seafarers in North Sea supply ships may reflect particular work-related hazards in this sector.
Keywords: seafarerscardiovascular diseaseischaemic heart diseaseBritish merchant shipping
References
- Royal Commission on Loss of Life at Sea.. First report of the Royal Commission on Loss of Life at Sea with minutes of evidence. Eyre and Spottiswoode, London 1885.
- Otterland A. A sociomedical study of the mortality in merchant seafarers. Scandinavian University Books, Gotebörg, Goteborg 1960.
- Jaremin B. Work-site casualties and environmental risk assessment on Polish vessels in the years 1960-1999. Int Marit Health. 2005; 56(1-4): 17–27.
- Roberts SE. Fatal work-related accidents in UK merchant shipping from 1919 to 2005. Occup Med (Lond). 2008; 58(2): 129–137.
- Pihl A. Hälso-och sjukvĺrd ombord af Med. Stockholm, Sweden 1907. Int Marit Health . 2010; 61(3): 101–188.
- Wickström G, Leivonniemi A. Suicides among male Finnish seafarers. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1985; 71(6): 575–580.
- Szymańska K, Jaremin B, Rosik E. Suicides among Polish seamen and fishermen during work at sea. Int Marit Health. 2006; 57(1-4): 36–45.
- Roberts SE, Jaremin B, Chalasani P, et al. Suicides among seafarers in UK merchant shipping, 1919-2005. Occup Med (Lond). 2010; 60(1): 54–61.
- Roberts SE. Work-related homicides among seafarers and fishermen. Int Marit Health. 2004; 55(1-4): 7–18.
- Nixon JA. Health and Sickness in the Merchant Navy to 1815 [Abstract]. Proc R Soc Med. 1944; 37(9): 510–512.
- M’William JO. On the health of merchant seamen. Am J Med Sci. 1862; 43: 510–512.
- Carr GJ. Health Problems in the Merchant Navy. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 1945; 2(2): 65–73.
- Tomaszunas S. Malaria in seafarers. 1. The magniture of the problem and the strategy of its control. Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia. 1998; 49(1-4): 53–61.
- Roberts SE. Mortality from disease among seafarers in British merchant shipping (1976-1995). Int Marit Health. 2002; 53(1-4): 43–58.
- Causes and Circumstances of Deaths of Polish Seafarers During Sea Voyages. J Travel Med. 1996; 3(2): 91–95.
- Hansen HL. Surveillance of deaths on board Danish merchant ships, 1986-93: implications for prevention. Occup Environ Med. 1996; 53(4): 269–275.
- Nielsen D, Hansen HL, Gardner BM, et al. Deaths due to disease of seafarers on board Singapore ships. Int Marit Health. 2000; 51(1-4): 20–29.
- Larsson T, Lindquist C. Traumatic fatalities among Swedish seafarers 1984–1988. Safety Science. 1992; 15(3): 173–182.
- Roberts SE. Surveillance of work related mortality among seafarers employed on board Isle of Man registered merchant ships from 1986 to 2005. Int Marit Health. 2006; 57(1-4): 9–23.
- Charlton J, Murphy M, Khaw K-T, Ebrahim S, Davey Sm, Charlton J. Cardiovascular diseases. In: Murphy M, Charlton J. ed. The health of adult Britain 1841–1994, vol 2. Stationer y Of fice, London 1997: 60–81.
- Levi F, Chatenoud L, Bertuccio P, et al. Trends in mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Europe and other areas of the world. Heart. 2002; 88(2): 119–124.
- Depar tment of Trade and Industry. Census of seamen, 26 April 1971: vessels registered in the United Kingdom. HMSO, Southampton 1972.
- Office for National Statistics. 20th Century Mortality (England & Wales 1901–2000) [CD-ROM]. Office for National Statistics London,.
- Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Occupational mortality: the Registrar General’s decennial supplement, par t II 1951. HMSO London, 1958.
- Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.. Occupational mortality: the Registrar General’s decennial supplement 1961: Occupational mortality tables. HMSO, London 1971.
- Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.. The Registrar General’s decennial Supplement for England and Wales, 1970–72. OPCS Series DS no. HMSO, London 1978.
- Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Occupational mor tality: decennial supplement, 1979–80, 1982–83, Great Britain, part II [microfiche slides]. Series DS no. HMSO, London 1986.
- Tomaszunas S, Tomaszunas-Błaszczyk J, Tomaszunas S. Smoking habit in fishermen and seafarers. Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia. 1989; 40(1-2): 13–20.
- Tomaszewski R, Dymnicki P, Flasiński J, et al. Studies on the risk of ischaemic heart disease in fishermen, seafarers and dockers. Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia. 1990; 41(1-4): 21–26.
- Oldenburg M, Jensen HJ, Latza U, et al. Coronary risks among seafarers aboard German-flagged ships. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2008; 81(6): 735–741.
- Jaremin B, Kotulak E. Myocardial infarction (MI) at the work-site among Polish seafarers. The risk and the impact of occupational factors. Int Marit Health. 2003; 54(1-4): 26–39.
- Hansen HL, Pedersen G. Influence of occupational accidents and deaths related to lifestyle on mortality among merchant seafarers. Int J Epidemiol. 1996; 25(6): 1237–1243.
- Nyström L, Kolmodin-Hedman B, Jönsson E, et al. Mortality from circulatory diseases, especially ischaemic heart disease in sea pilots and boatmen in Sweden 1951-84: a retrospective cohort study. Br J Ind Med. 1990; 47(2): 122–126.
- Brandt LP, Kirk NU, Jensen OC, et al. Mortality among Danish merchant seamen from 1970 to 1985. Am J Ind Med. 1994; 25(6): 867–876.
- Rafnsson V, Gunnarsdottir H. Mortality among Icelandic Seamen. International Journal of Epidemiology. 1994; 23(4): 730–736.
