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Journal Article

Citation

Ng KL, Quinn S, Gill TK, Hill C, Shanahan EM. Intern. Med. J. 2013; 43(6): 650-655.

Affiliation

Next Generation, Occupational Medicine, South Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02923.x

PMID

22909054

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In 2004 a compulsory National Standard for the Australian rail industry was introduced outlining health standards that drivers must meet to be deemed fit to drive. The objective of this study was to examine the trend in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) risk factors in train drivers between 2004 and 2009, following the standard's inroduction METHODS: A retrospective analysis of IHD risk factors of drivers (n=386) of an Australian train company, who underwent health assessments between February 2004 and November 2009 was performed. The Framingham Score for 10-year risk of coronary artery disease, body mass index, cigarette smoking, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol were compared with that of controls at these two time periods. RESULTS: There were significant reduction in the rates of 10-year CHD risk/yr (0.47 (95% CI 0.19, 0.75) in the train drivers compared to the control population. This was driven by a reduction in the rate of cigarette smoking OR=0.87 (95% CI 0.79, 0.96), and total cholesterol (mmol/l) OR=-0.05 (95% CI -0.09, 0.003) and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels HDL (mmol/l) OR=0.02 (95% CI 0.006, 0.03) between groups over time. This was despite an increase in body mass index (kg/m(2) ) OR=0.10 (95% CI 0.01, 0.19). CONCLUSION: Following the introduction of a National Standard for drivers in Australia there has been a significant improvement in the health of drivers. Such a program may have a significant impact in this group of safety critical workers.


Language: en

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