An innovative approach based on health surveillance for the prevention and early detection of cardiovascular diseases in a large cohort of healthcare workers

The aim of our three-year retrospective observational study on 6000 healthcare workers, all subjected to mandatory health surveillance, is to determine the risk factors and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and to analyze the results of an ad hoc designated preventive health surveillance protocol. A risk assessment was performed and a preventive health surveillance protocol was implemented, including clinical-instrumental and laboratory tests aimed at the early detection of any sign of CVD. As a result, n = 442 new diagnoses of CVDs were made and the prevalence of CVDs increased from 12 to 16.1%. The higher prevalence was observed in physicians (P = 57.8%; p < 0.0001). The main risk factors for CVDs were age, male sex and family history of CVDs. The analysis of CVDs determinants highlighted an unexpected protective role of shift work (aOR = 0.64; p < 0.0001). Our preventive health surveillance protocol allowed to reveal a high prevalence of undiagnosed CVDs, laying the foundations for future primary prevention and counseling interventions as part of the health promotion and TOTAL WORKER HEALTH programs. Further studies are needed to create solid scientific evidence that can guide public health decisions regarding new prevention models and health promotion programs also in the general population.