Prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in coke-oven workers

Objective To analyze the morbidity rate of metabolic syndrome(MS) and its risk factors in coke-oven workers for prevention of the disorder.Methods Totally 267 male coke-oven workers were chosen as exposed group and 171 male library workers,materials workers,mechanical and electrical workers were chosen as controls.Basic personal information were collected with a questionnaire.All subjects accepted physical examination including measurements of body height and weight,blood pressure,blood glucose,high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and triglyceride(TG).The diagnosis of MS was based on the criterion recommended by Chinese Diabetes Society.Results The morbidity rate of MS and hypertension in the workers were 10.5% and 25.5%.The morbidity rates of MS and hypertension for the worker working at the top,side,and bottom of coke-oven were 11.2%,8.5%,and 11.5% and 31.8%,20.7%,and 21.8%,respcectively,which were higher than those of the controls(2.3% and 10.5%,P < 0.05),but without significant difference among different groups.Multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that the exposure to coke-oven emission and age were risk factors for MS and hypertension in the worker with the adjusted odds ratioORand 95% confidence interval(95% CI) of 6.798(2.021-21.793),1.1841(1.087-1.290),3.16(1.737-5.752),and 1.085(1.026-1.147),respectively.Conclusion The exposure to coke-oven emission may increase the morbidity rate of MS and hypertension among cokeoven workers and age is associated with MS.