An Audit of Cardiovascular Diseases Detected during Mandatory Extension Medical Assessment for Employees Reaching Retirement Age

Abstract

Abstract Overall increase in life expectancy has led to unprecedented rise in proportions of older persons (60 years or older) resulting in phasing out of default retirement age. Work is good for health and wellness, and aged experienced employees have expertise valuable to Oil and Gas Industry. However, aging is associated with almost linear increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. Cardiovascular diseases has been identified as number one threat to workers’ health in the 21st century Advancing chronic diseases adversely affects fitness for work and employers are aware of this fact. In Qatar Petroleum service period of an employee may be extended beyond retirement age subject to medical fitness. Serious health problems detected during medical assessment such as advanced CVDs may render an aged employee medically unfit for service extension and results in subsequent loss of valuable expertise. Objectives of this study were to 1) estimate the prevalence of CVDs among QP employees reaching retirement age, which may render them medically unfit for service extension ; 2) recommend strategies for management of CVDs in workplace and preventing its risk factors to improve overall health of elderly employees for retention of expertise and increased employability. To achieve this, comprehensive review of service extension medical examinations was undertaken between January to September 2011. Over 9 months the health data recorded during medical assessment was transferred to a electronic database (n=212) and analysis was done using simple descriptive statistics. The review identified that CVDs are the main cause repatriation among QP employees reaching retirement age. This paper calls attention towards judicious management and prevention of CVDs and its risk factors among the aging workforce particularly those above 55 years in order to avert complications resulting in loss of valuable expertise and to prolong the healthy years of life. Customized health promotion and risk based medical surveillance is the key to improve the health and wellness of aged employees who might otherwise retire prematurely due to ever increasing disability from lifestyle related chronic diseases. Study suggests that appropriate occupational health intervention can help reduce degree of work impairment and disability arising from chronic diseases.