Analysis of the prevalence of musculoskeletal system pathologies among workers of a heavy industry enterprise

Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) are common among the working-age population and have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of industrial regions. Objective. To study the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases and comorbid chronic non-communicable diseases in heavy industry workers, considering the labor features. Materials and methods. The study involved 542 employees of Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works PJSC, divided into three groups based on labor process features. The median age was 47.2±8.7 years. The study included two stages: at stage 1, all respondents completed a validated ARTROVIS questionnaire (α-Cronbach coefficient 0.798) designed to identify musculoskeletal conditions and other CNCDs. Two hundred forty-six employees who underwent an additional laboratory examination were invited to stage 2 with a rheumatologist consultation. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10.0 software; differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results. A high prevalence of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases (91%), endocrine disorders (69.6%), and cardiovascular system diseases (46.4%) was revealed. Only 54.26% of respondents demonstrated a responsible attitude toward their health; those with musculoskeletal symptoms underwent additional examinations. In most respondents, the pain was of a mechanical nature; the inflammatory nature of pain was detected in 20.2—26.7% of participants in different groups. The respondents showed low awareness of their serum biochemical parameters (uric acid, rheumatoid factor, and glucose). Conclusion. The use of the targeted ARTROVIS questionnaire has confirmed its effectiveness for early detection of the risk of joint pathology and concomitant conditions, supporting its introduction into the system of preventive medical monitoring, including at enterprises with high production loads. The results emphasize the need for comprehensive preventive programs to improve the health and performance of employees in the industrial complex.