Case-control Study On The Risk Factors Of Chronic Diseases And Their Prevalence Status Among Women In The Jinchuan Occupational Cohort

Objectives The aims of this study are to discover the primary health problems and to explore the risk factors for major chronic diseases among women in the Jinchuan occupational cohort and to provide basic and scientific data for the management of health in female workers.Methods Female workers of the Jinchuan Group Ltd.were investigated from June 2011 to September 2012 using a standard questionnaire,which collected data about sociodemographic characteristics,health status,occupational hazards,lifestyle behavior,etc.Medical and biochemical data were obtained from the medical examination center and the laboratory of the Jinchuan worker's hospital.A cross-sectional study design was used to determine the prevalence,and a case-control study was used to explore the risk factors for major chronic diseases using logistic regression.Results(1)The total prevalence of chronic diseases among female workers in the Jinchuan occupational cohort was 63.73%,and the three organ systems with the highest prevalences of chronic diseases were the digestive system(27.12%,95%CI 26.18-28.08%),the genitourinary system(23.90%,95%Cl 22.10-24.82%),and the respiratory system(20.71%,95%Cl 19.86-21.59).(2)5440 out of 8536 people had chronic diseases.2587 people had one chronic disease(30.31%of the whole population),1482 people had two chronic diseases(17.36%),739 people had three chronic diseases(8.66%),and 632 had four or more chronic diseases(7.40%).(3)The ten most prevalent chronic diseases in the population were mammary hyperplasia,chronic rhinitis,cholecystitis,gallstones,hysteromyoma,pharyngitis,herniated disc,hypertension,gastritis,and non-inflammatory disorders of the ovaries.(4)Of the top 15 chronic diseases,the prevalences of pelvic inflammatory disease and chronic rhinitis showed a downward trend with increasing age and length of employment,while the rest showed an upward trend.The prevalence of chronic rhinitis showed an upward trend with increasing educational level,while cholecystitis,gallstones,hysteromyoma,hypertension,fatty liver hyperlipemia,hyperosteogeny,and herniated disc showed a downward trend.(5)The logistic regression showed that age;electromagnetic radiation;female neoplasms;exposure to coal or ore dust,chemical materials,acids,or solvents;family history of cancer;hypophosphoremia;pelvic inflammatory disease;and irregular menstrual cycles were risk factors for mammary hyperplasia.Pharyngitis,exposure to electric welding dust or sulfirous anhydride,indoor secondhand smoking,and more education were risk factors for chronic rhinitis.Exposure to gasoline or diesel fuel,chlorine gas,or coal or ore dust and age greater than 40 were risk factors for cholecystitis.Overweight or obesity and age greater than 40 were risk factors for gallstone.Hypertriglyceridemia;dysmenorrheal;menopause;early menopause;mammary hyperplasia;having two more induced abortions;and exposure to chemical materials,acids,or solvents were risk factors for hysteromyoma.Diabetes,exposure to coal or ore dust or sulfurous anhydride,family history of hypertension,fatty liver,and overweight or obesity were risk factors for hypertension.Indoor secondhand smoking;hyperglycemia;overweight or obesity;exposure to chemical materials,acids,solvents,gasoline,diesel fuel,or sulfurous anhydride;isoenzymes of creatine kinase>25%;alanine transaminase(ALT)>45 U/L;total bile acid(TBA)>11.1?mol/L were risk factors for hyperlipemia.History of benign thyroid tumor,exposure to formaldehyde or carbon monoxide,infertility,and unmarried status were risk factors for benign mammary tumors.Conclusions The prevalence of chronic diseases among female workers in the Jinchuan occupational cohort was higher and the number of chronic diseases was also higher,compared to the results of the Fourth National Health Services Survey(NHSS,2008).Mammary hyperplasia,chronic rhinitis,cholecystitis,gallstones,hysterom-yoma,pharyngitis,herniated disc,and hypertension were the primary chronic diseases among these female workers.Occupational hazards were the main risk factors for chronic diseases in the population.Thus,corresponding preventive measures should be carried out as soon as possible in order to reduce the burden of chronic diseases and to improve the health of female workers.