Risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in vibration disease in coal industry workers

Introduction. The combination of vibration disease with arterial hypertension is quite common, which is a mutually aggravating circumstance in the development and progression of these pathological states. In this connection, the study of additional risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in patients with vibration disease (VD) is extremely relevant for complete and personalized prevention and rehabilitation of patients with comorbid pathology. Research objective was to study industrial and non-industrial risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension due to vibration disease in coal industry workers. Materials and methods. The study involved one hundred seventy eight VD workers of basic occupations in the coal industry and 112 people without its clinical signs. All subjects underwent a comprehensive clinical, instrumental, and laboratory examination to identify arterial hypertension and its risk factors. Results. Workers with vibration disease were revealed to have arterial hypertension more often than in the control group. The most significant non-occupational risk factors for arterial hypertension in VD patients have been identified as follows: smoking, excessive salt intake, the presence of fasting hyperglycemia, family history, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperuricemia. Occupational risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in VD workers were identified to include work experience in harmful working conditions of 25 years or more, the development of the second stage of vibration disease. Limitations. This study is limited by the number of workers in the main occupations of the coal industry who were examined at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. The study did not include persons with other proven occupational diseases, except for vibration disease. Conclusion. The most significant occupational and non-occupational risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in in coal industry VD workers were identified. During prophylactic medical examination of VD workers, it is necessary to form groups at increased risk of developing arterial hypertension and to elaborate a set of measures aimed at modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.