1. II International Maritime Health Seminar
Panama, September , 2016 –Hard Rock Hotel Megapolis
MLC 2006 Implementation Progress: Its Impact in Health and Security at Sea
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Iranian Seafarers
Fereshteh Baygi
Olaf Chresten Jensen
Farzad Shidfar
Aliasghar Farshad
Occupation Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Centre of Maritime Health and Society, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark.

2. *Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with:
Introduction & Aims
*Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with:
increased risk of diabetes II
cardiovascular diseases
mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases
*Increasing of MetS risk with:
Nutritional factors
shift work
sleep patterns
work stress
fatigue

3. Introduction & Aims (cont.)
Iran’s economy is based on the sale of petroleum products so seafaring is considered a crucial job.
Little research has been done on issues related to Seafarers’ health in Iranian maritime industry.
The present study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of cardio-metabolic risk factors in seafarers of National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC).

4. Methods Cross-sectional study.
234 Iranian male seafarers of NITC in 2015.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS): according to the Reports of National Committee of Obesity.
waist circumference > 95 cm,
triglycerides (TG) > 150 mg/dl,
HDL-C < 40 mg/dl,
systolic blood pressure(SBP)> 130 mmHg and/ or diastolic blood pressure (DBP)> 85 mmHg,
and fasting blood glucose > 100 mg/dl.

5. Methods (cont.) *Additional cardio-metabolic risk factors:
elevated total cholesterol (TC),
elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),
elevated very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)
and general obesity.

6. Measurement Weight, height and blood pressure
FBS, serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)
Serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)

7. Statistical analysis The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16.
T-test, Chi square and linear regression model were used.
The significant level was set at p <0.05.

8. Results Mean age of the participants: 36.0 ± 10.3 years.
Prevalence of MetS:14.9%.
Common cardio-metabolic risk factors:
excess weight (51.1%),
abdominal obesity (38.5%),
and smoking (27.8%)

9. Results (cont.) Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the
Iran National Committee of Obesity.
Seafarers who had at least three of the following criteria
were classified as patients with Metabolic syndrome :
WC > 95 cm,
TG > 150 mg/dL,
HDL-C < 40 mg/dL,
Systolic BP > 130 mm Hg and/ or diastolic BP > 85 mm Hg,
Fasting blood glucose > 100 mg/dL.

10. were associated with the increase of hypertension risk.
Results (cont.)
In multivariate analysis:
age (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.09)
and BMI(OR: 1.14, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.27)
were associated with the increase of hypertension risk.

11. Discussion A study among Danish seafarers:
Prevalence of MetS was 25.9% and increased with age (1); a similar status was seen in the present study, i.e. the risk of MetS increased by increase of one standard deviation in age.
Some studies:
confirmed that smoking cigarette was prevalent among seafarers(2, 3). Similar results were observed in our study.

12. Discussion (cont.) Violanti et al. (2009):
Midnight shift work was significantly associated with MetS components, and likely the main contributors to the metabolic syndrome(4). Among Iranian seafarers, shift work was not associated with the risk of MetS.
In a study in Germany:
On 35% of seafarers, there were at least three coronary heart disease risk factors, and the main risk factors were high triglycerides, hypertension, and aging(5).

13. Discussion (cont.) In other published data:
Overweight was one of the main risk factors among seafarers (6),which is consistent with the current result that indicated abdominal obesity as a principal cardio-metabolic risk factor among Iranian seafarers (38.5%).

14. Conclusions
The current prevalence of MetS among Iranian male seafarers
working on tankers can affect negatively their health and career at
sea.
Future preventive interventions for health promotion of
seafarers, especially those working on tankers, are
recommended.

15. Conclusions
The prevalence of MetS was 14.9%. Excess weight (51.1%) (> 25 bmi), abdominal obesity (38.5%), smoking (27.8%) among Iranian seafarers.

16. References
Pedersen SFM, Jepsen JR. The metabolic syndrome among Danish seafarers. International maritime health. 2013;64(4):
Oldenburg M, Jensen H-J, Latza U, Baur X. The risk of coronary heart disease of seafarers on vessels sailing under a German flag. International maritime health. 2010;62(3):123-8.
Kirkutis A, Norkiene S, Griciene P, Gricius J, Yang S, Gintautas J, editors. Prevalence of hypertension in Lithuanian mariners. Proc West Pharmacol Soc; 2004: Citeseer.
Violanti JM, Burchfiel CM, Hartley TA, Mnatsakanova A, Fekedulegn D, Andrew ME, et al. Atypical Work Hours and Metabolic Syndrome Among Police Officers. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health. 2009;64(3):
Oldenburg M, Jensen H-J, Latza U, Baur X. Coronary risks among seafarers aboard German-flagged ships. International archives of occupational and environmental health. 2008;81(6):
Pougnet R, Pougnet L, Loddé BL, Canals-Pol ML, Jegaden D, Lucas D, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors in seamen and fishermen: review of literature. International maritime health. 2013;64(3):

17. Thank you