A Worksite Health-Monitoring Program: Effectiveness on Detection, Intent to be treated and Follow up Care for Cardiovascular Diseases/Risk Factors

Abstract

The study objective was to determine the effectiveness of a workplace health-monitoring program on the detection, intent to be treated and follow up care related to multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and risk factors. Environmental investigators for the State of Texas are required to undergo annual health-monitoring exams conducted yearly with intent to determine fitness for duty and detection of work related illnesses. Exams include: work and personal health histories, vital signs, chest X ray, spirometry, electrocardiography, audiometry, blood chemistries, workplace appropriate immunizations, and physical examination. Employees receive personal follow up consultation four weeks post screening. Personal versus work related health problems were difficult to discern. Relatively few occupationally related health problems were detected during monitoring exams. However, a minor percentage of employees were found to have other health conditions significant enough to be restricted from engaging in one or more work-related activity (i.e. respirator use, climbing). However, 20 years of experience examining employees for the same employer has shown significant numbers diagnosed with new CVD and/or risk factors (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, abnormal EKGs, hyperlipidemia, sedentary life style) during the health-monitoring exams. Furthermore, experience indicated a relatively high percentage of employees dropped out of previous treatment for a CVD condition or failed to return for follow up care to a primary care provider/cardiologist. After undergoing an exam and follow up consultation during the health- monitoring program sizeable numbers of employees indicated an intent to start, return to treatment and/or adopt life-style changes to address one or more CVD problem or risk factor. Data from the 2017/19 programs quantify past experience and provides statistics on which to build future interventions. The described health-monitoring program detected meaningful numbers of employees with known/unknown CVD and risk factors. Brief counseling during the physical examinations and follow-up counseling sessions were pivotal in moving employees to

Keywords

• worksite health-monitoring program
• cardiovascular risk factors
• health-monitoring follow up