Qualitative work overload and other risk factors related to hypertension risk among Indonesian Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob).

Members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) can suffer from hypertension which is related to work stressors and other risk factors. This study aimed to identify the relationship between work stressors and other hypertensive risk factors. The subjects of this cross-sectional study were members of the Brimob undergoing their periodic medical check-up during July-October 2007. A subject was hypertensive if systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 140 mmHg or higher, or diastolic (DBD) 90 mmHg, or higher or taking antihypertensive drugs. Normal subjects were those who had SBP less than 120 mmHg and DBP less than 80 mmHg, and have never been diagnosed with hypertension. A number of 336 Brimobs aged 21 to 51 years participated in this study, 111 had high blood pressure and 79 had normal blood pressure. Hypertension was found to be related to excessive body weight and qualitative work overload. Age, work, lifestyle, history of diabetes, hypertension in the family, and other work stressors were not found to increase the risk of hypertension. Medium to high level qualitative work overload had a two-fold risk for hypertension [relative risk adjusted (RRa) = 2.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97-4.14; p = 0.060]. Overweight subjects had 48% increased risk to hypertension (RRa = 1.48; 95% CI = 0.98-2.22). Obese subjects had a two-fold risk of being hypertensive (RRa = 2.21; 95%CI = 1.51 - 3.14). Qualitative work overload and obesity increased the risk of hypertension. These risk factors should therefore be controlled.

Correlation between left ventricular mass and visceral fat thickness in obese women.

AIM: This study was aimed to measure left ventricular mass, which partly determines the function of the left ventricle, in obese women. METHODS: The total number of study subjects was 90, which consisted of 45 obese women (BMI >or= 25 Kg/m2) and 45 non-obese women (BMI < 25 Kg/m2) as control group. They were evaluated by M mode echocardiography and abdominal CT to measure visceral fat, blood pressure, insulin resistance and waist circumference. Correlation was assessed for both groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the left ventricular mass of the obese and non-obese group (P= 0.000), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.000), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.006), waist circumference (P = 0.000), visceral fat (P = 0.000), and HOMA-IR (P = 0.000). With bivariant analysis, it is concluded that there are significant correlations between left ventricular mass and visceral fat (r = 0.67, P = 0.000); between BMI and left ventricular mass (r = 0.67, P = 0.000); between waist circumference and left ventricular mass (r = 0.72, P = 0.000); and also between HOMA-IR and left ventricular mass (r = 0.57, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: There are significant correlations between increased left ventricular mass and visceral fat, BMI, waist circumference and HOMA-IR among Indonesian women. So far, this study has shown a correlation between obesity and high cardiovascular risk.

Job stressors and other risk factors related to the risk of hypertension among selected employees in Jakarta.

Almost everyone, including employees, may develop hypertension. Several risk factors, including stresses in the work environment, are related to hypertension. The aim of this study is to identify these work-related risk factors in hypertension. A nested case-control study was conducted among office employees in Jakarta during May 2004. Employees with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension (based on the United States of America Joint National Committee on high blood pressure 2003), or those taking antihypertensive drugs were designated as cases. As controls were employees with no history of hypertension. One case was randomly matched by gender with two controls. All risk factors for cases and controls were counted as of the reference date of diagnosis for cases. There were 70 cases and 140 controls aged 25 to 65 years. Hypertension was found to be related to the qualitative and quantitative increase in the workload, career development, age, obesity, current and past smoking habits, and a family history of hypertension. However, it was noted that role of ambiguity, role of conflict, and personal responsibility did not increase the risk of hypertension. Compared to those with low qualitative job stressor, those who had moderate or high qualitative job stressor had a seven-fold risk to be hypertensive [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 7.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40-39.76]. In addition, relative to those who had low quantitative job stressor, those with moderate or high stressors were four times at risk to be hypertensive (ORa = 4.10; 95% CI = 1.06-15.90). In conclusion moderate or high qualitative and quantitative job stressors as well as career development increased risk hypertension. Therefore these stressors need to be prevented.