Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and neoplasms in seafarers and farmers in Denmark

Abstract

Abstract Background Seafaring is a very specific occupational environment and seafarers are exposed to many health risks. On the other hand, regular medical examinations are obligatory to get permission for working onboard. We sought to estimate relative risk of hospital contacts due to neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among seafarers compared to farmers, as a relevant land-based trade. Methods The participants were all seafarers and all farmers aged 18-65 year at the baseline and residing in Denmark. Two cohorts with baselines in 2002 (n = 56,216) and 2012 (n = 42,000) were linked to records from Danish health registers. We calculated the hazard ratios of hospital contacts using Cox regression models separately for men and women. Results In all disease categories, the risk for hospital contact was greater among male seafarers compared with male farmers. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for the 2012 cohort for neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were 1.36 (95% CI: 1.17 to 1.58), 1.16 (1.01 to 1.32), and 1.51 (1.28 to 1.78), respectively. Among female seafarers, the HR for the 2012 cohort for respiratory diseases was 1.58 (1.18 to 2.10), but for cardiovascular diseases 0.73 (0.54 to 0.99). Differences for neoplasms were marginal among women. The incident rates and differences decreased in cardiovascular diseases and increased in neoplasms and respiratory diseases, particularly in men. Conclusions:These data suggest that seafaring is associated, compared with farmers, with a substantially increased risk of neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among men. Key messages Seafaring is associated, compared with farmers, with a substantially increased risk of neoplasms, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among men. The incidence rates were highest for CVD in men and for neoplasms in women.