Influence of Occupational Type and Lifestyle Risk Factors on Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Male Workers: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the influence of occupational type and lifestyle habits on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean male workers. Methods: Through secondary analysis of their four-year health examination data, 3,892 subjects were divided into four subgroups according to the presence of MetS now and four years ago. Results: Nineteen percent (n=739) suffered from MetS and these 739 subjects were classified into following occupations: 7.1% were office workers, 17.6% were non-office workers, and 42.2% were drivers. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that when the data adjusted for age, the predicting factors on the prevalence of MetS were heavy drinking (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.09~1.64) and the occupation of non-office workers (OR 2.99, 95% CI 2.13~4.18) and drivers (OR 7.97, 95% CI 4.89~10.83) among workers without MetS four years ago. Among workers already with a history of MetS, the predicting factors were less exercise (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.02~2.35) and drivers (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.03~2.94). Conclusion: Heavy drinking and less exercise and drivers were reported as influencing factors on the prevalence of MetS by this sample. The findings suggest that employers need to provide their employees with screening and management program for those at risk of MetS.