Background: Non communicable diseases are becoming more prevalent in India. The data for presence of non communicable diseases and its risk factors among factory workers is deficient in India. Materials and methods: A cross sectional comparative study was carried out among 37 factory workers and equal number of comparable subjects from general population. Screening for presence of diabetes along with its risk factors was made in both the groups using pretested predesigned WHO STEPS questionnaire in rural area of Delhi. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. The estimation of risk in two groups was done with calculation of Odd’s ratio. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 74 participants were included in the present study. Hypertension and diabetes was present in 13.5% and 5.4% of factory workers and 4 (10.8%) and 3 (8.8%) in non-factory subjects. 7 (18.9%) factory and 8 (21.6%) non-factory subjects fell in category of current smoker or smokeless tobacco users. HDL levels were found abnormal among 1(2.7%) case and 9 (24.3%) controls (p value 0.01). Behavioral risk factors -alcohol consumption and fruits and vegetable intake were significantly different among two groups. Conclusion: Factory workers were having better profile than non-factory subjects except for risk factors such as alcohol intake and inadequate fruits and vegetable intake. However healthy worker effect phenomenon cannot be ruled out.
Key words: Non communicable diseases, factory, healthy worker effect phenomenon
Original article published in Indian Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
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