A descriptive epidemiological study of cardiovascular diseases among seafarers
, 1, 12, 2, 1, 12
Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among seafarers. This study aimed to evaluate CVDs distribution and differences, considering seafarers’ rank and worksite groups.
Materials and methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was employed, and the analysis was based on the telemedical assistance data of the International Radio Medical Centre (C.I.R.M.) from 2010 to 2018. The age, gender, rank, and worksite variables were considered for the analysis. Chi-square or Fisher test was used to assess differences in CVD distribution between rank and worksite groups.
Results: Cardiovascular diseases were the sixth leading cause of medical advice requests to C.I.R.M. Distribution of CVD significantly differed between officers and non-officers [x2 (5) = 17.308, p = 0.004]. Officers were often diagnosed with hypertensive CVD (46%), whereas non-officers were frequently diagnosed with ischaemic heart diseases (41%). There were no significant differences in the distribution of CVD diagnoses between worksite groups [x2 (10) = 12.863, p = 0.231].
Conclusions: The frequency of CVD is higher among non-officers and older seafarers who have been more often diagnosed with CVD. Specific interventions such as early diagnosis, regular monitoring, and physical training to reduce cardiovascular risk should be considered on board ships. Future studies should take into account the incidence rate of CVD between rank and worksite groups.
Keywords: cardiovascular diseasesepidemiologyseafarershypertensive diseaseischaemic heart disease
References
- World Health Organization, “Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs),” 2016. [Online]. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) (Accessed: 28-Mar-2019).
- World Health Organization, "Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)," 2017. [Online]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) (Accessed: 28-Mar-2019).
- B.I.M.C.O. and I.C.S. Manpower Report-The global supply and demand for seafarers. Exec. Summ, 2015, p. 6.
- Lefkowitz RY, Slade MD, Redlich CA. Injury, illness, and disability risk in American seafarers. Am J Ind Med. 2018; 61(2): 120–129.
- Oldenburg M, Herzog J, Harth V. Seafarer deaths at sea: a German mortality study. Occup Med (Lond). 2016; 66(2): 135–137.
- Alves PM, Leigh R, Bartos G, et al. Cardiovascular events on board commercial maritime vessels: a two-year review. Int Marit Health. 2010; 62(3): 137–142.
- Grappasonni I, Petrelli F, Amenta F. Deaths on board ships assisted by the Centro Internazionale Radio Medico in the last 25 years. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2012; 10(4): 186–191.
- Buring JE, Hennekens CH. Prevention of cardiovascular disease: risks and benefits of aspirin. J Gen Intern Med. 1990; 5(5 Suppl): S54–S57.
- Yang ZJ, Liu J, Ge JP, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factor in the Chinese population: the 2007-2008 China National Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Study. Eur Heart J. 2012; 33(2): 213–220.
- Rabani S, Sardarinia M, Akbarpour S, et al. 12-year trends in cardiovascular risk factors (2002-2005 through 2011-2014) in patients with cardiovascular diseases: Tehran lipid and glucose study. PLoS One. 2018; 13(5): e0195543.
- Konings JWPM, Caliskan K, Balk AHHM, et al. Complexe revalidatie van een jongvolwassen patiënt: Niedaags, wel mogelijk Tijdschr. Tijdschr. voor Verpleeghuisgeneeskd. 2008; 33(4): 130–133.
- Schweigman K, Eichner J, Welty TK. Cardiovascular disease risk factor a wareness in American Indian is to assess awareness of nine disease among participants in the Strong Heart Study (S.H.S.). Ethnicity. 2006; 16: 2006.
- Yusuf S, Reddy S, Ôunpuu S, et al. Global burden of cardiovascular diseases. Circulation. 2001; 104(22): 2746–2753.
- Szafran-Dobrowolska J, Renke M, Jeżewska M. Is it worth to continue to analyse the factors of cardiovascular risk among the sailors? Review of literature. Int Marit Health. 2019; 70(1): 17–21.
- Nittari G, Tomassoni D, Di Canio M, et al. Overweight among seafarers working on board merchant ships. BMC Public Health. 2019; 19(1): 45.
- Baygi F, Jensen OC, Qorbani M, et al. Pattern of some risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and liver enzymes among Iranian seafarers. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2017; 31: 23.
- Heart Foundation. Cardiovascular disease Factsheet. 2013, vol. 6, no. Cvd, pp. 138–141.
- Carotenuto A, Molino I, Fasanaro AM, et al. Psychological stress in seafarers: a review. Int Marit Health. 2012; 63(4): 188–194.
- Allen P, Wadsworth E, Smith A. Seafarers' fatigue: a review of the recent literature. Int Marit Health. 2008; 59(1-4): 81–92.
- Iversen RTB. The mental health of seafarers. Int Marit Health. 2012; 63(2): 78–89.
- MacLachlan M, Kavanagh B, Kay A. Maritime health: a review with suggestions for research. Int Marit Health. 2012; 63(1): 1–6.
- Oldenburg M, Baur X, Schlaich C. Occupational risks and challenges of seafaring. J Occup Health. 2010; 52(5): 249–256.
- Slišković A, Penezić Z. Occupational stressors, risks and health in the seafaring population. Rev Psychol. 2016; 22(1-2): 29–39.
- Wang H, Naghavi M, Allen C, et al. Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 2016; 388(10053): 1459–1544.
- Joseph P, Leong D, McKee M, et al. Reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease. Part 1: the epidemiology and risk factors. Circ Res. 2017; 121(6): 677–694.
- Roth G, Abate D, Abate K, et al. Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018; 392(10159): 1736–1788.
- Moran AE, Forouzanfar MH, Roth GA, et al. The global burden of ischemic heart disease in 1990 and 2010: the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Circulation. 2014; 129(14): 1493–1501.
- Moran AE, Forouzanfar MH, Roth GA, et al. Temporal trends in ischemic heart disease mortality in 21 world regions, 1980 to 2010: the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Circulation. 2014; 129(14): 1483–1492.
- Go A, Mozaffarian D, Roger V, et al. Executive summary: heart disease and stroke statistics — 2014 update. Circulation. 2014; 129(3): 399–410.
- Roberts SE. Mortality from disease among seafarers in British merchant shipping (1976-1995). Int Marit Health. 2002; 53(1-4): 43–58.
- Hansen HL. Surveillance of deaths on board Danish merchant ships, 1986-93: implications for prevention. Occup Environ Med. 1996; 53(4): 269–275.
- Puttfarken T. Causes and circumstances of deaths of Polish seafarers during seavoyages. J Travel Med. 1996; 3: 91–95.
- Larsson T, Lindquist C. Traumatic fatalities among Swedish seafarers 1984–1988. Safety Science. 1992; 15(3): 173–182.
- Mahdi SS, Amenta F. Eighty years of CIRM. A journey of commitment and dedication in providing maritime medical assistance. Int Marit Health. 2016; 67(4): 187–195.
- WHO. International Classification of Disease, Tenth Edition. 2011, pp. 1–195.
- Oldenburg M. Risk of cardiovascular diseases in seafarers. Int Marit Health. 2014; 65(2): 53–57.
- Oldenburg M, Baur X, Schlaich C. Cardiovascular diseases in modern maritime industry. Int Marit Health. 2010; 61(3): 101–106.
- Oldenburg M, Jensen HJ, Lucas D, et al. Stress and Strain among Seafarers Related to the Occupational Groups. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(7).
- Tu M, Jepsen JR. Hypertension among Danish seafarers. Int Marit Health. 2016; 67(4): 196–204.
- Review C. CLINICIAN' S CORNER Value and Limitations of Chest Pain History. Heal. (San Fr). 2006; 294(20): 57–58.
