Influencing Factors in Approving Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Disease as Work-Related Disease of Workers' in Manufacturing Sectors / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to analyze the factors that have been meaningful in recognizing cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases in manufacturing sector workers as work-related diseases, since amendment of Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act on July 1st, 2008, and provide information to establish an objective standard. METHODS: We examined 359 claims of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases which were presented as occupational diseases from January 1st, to December 31th, 2010, collecting Industrial Accident Compensation data from the six Provincial Committees for work-related disease decision. We analyzed the approval rate and odds ratio of the general characteristics, past medical history and work-related information, by using univariate logistic regression. In addition, we confirmed the factors that have effects on when approving work-related diseases by using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 92 claims out of the 359 claims were recognized as worked-related diseases with an approval rate of 25.6%. Because of accidental situations such as altercation, cold environments, fire etc., only 12 cases were approved. In addition, due to short-term overwork such as outdoor work in cold environments, only 18 cases were approved. Sixty-two cases were approved for chronic overwork. On chronic overwork, the approval rate was not significantly different in univariate logistic regression in gender, age, claimed disease, survival or death, smoker or non-smoker, or associated disease. However, factory size and, average working time for last one week and average working time for last four weeks were significantly. In the multivariate logistic regression analyzed, adjusted for age and sex, we found that the factors in approving cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease as work-related disease were average working time for the last four weeks and factory size. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there has been a great deal of subjective judgements when approving cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases to be occupational diseases. Therefore, objective criteria should be established, especially with regard to the approval of work-related cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and working hours.

The Relationship between Job Stress and hsCRP / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to investigate the relationship between job stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins (hsCRP) with a view to using them as a predictor of future cardiovascular events. METHODS: The study subjects were 155 male bank workers. A structured, self-assesment questionnaire was used to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics and job stress of the participants. Seven levels of job stress, as described in the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF), were used to categorized the participants. We included tests for blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, blood lipid level (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides), and hsCRP in our analysis. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to determine an association between job stress and cardiovascular risk factors including hsCRP. RESULTS: In the multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for general and job characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors, interpersonal conflict (adjusted OR 1.69, 95% CI=1.11~2.57), job insecurity (adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI=1.24~3.03) and, occupational climate (adjusted OR 1.89, 95% CI=1.19~3.01) were associated with hsCRP. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that job stress is associated with hsCRP which is a predictor of future cardiovascular events.

Factors for Approving Cerebrovascular Disorders and Cardiovascular Diseases as Work-related Diseases in Chronically Overworked Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to analyze the factors that affected the decision of claims for cerebrovascular disorders and cardiovascular diseases in chronically overworked workers, that submitted their claims after the reformation of approval standards in the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act on 1 July 2008. METHODS: Of 2909 cases, who claimed between January 1. and December 31. 2009, 1046 cases were selected based on their worker's compensation record and investigated following 6 provincial committees for work-related diseases. The approval rate and odds ratio were analyzed with respect to the general characteristics, past medical history and work-related information using a logistical regression and Student t-test. RESULTS: Of the 1046 selected cases, the approval rate was 18.5%(194 cases). In the multivariate logistical regression analysis, the factors for approving cerebrovascular disorders and cardiovascular diseases as work-related diseases were found to be the average working time over the last 1 week, occupational category, gender, age, death or survival, the presence of an associated disease, claimed province, and smoking. CONCLUSION: Factors for approving claims of cerebrovascular disorders and cardiovascular diseases as work-related diseases were the average working time over last 1 week, gender, age, death or survival, claimed disease, presence of associated disease, claimed province, smoking.