Coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular disorders among the physicians.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), specifically coronary artery disease (CAD), among Thai physicians, and the cardiac testing being used. The associated or risk factors of CAD were also studied. METHODS: Data of Thai physicians who participated in the hospital's corporate social responsibility "Save Doctors' Heart" project conducted between February 14, 2022, and October 31, 2022, were collected: personal illness, family history of CAD, workplace, work hours, dietary habits, exercise, stress, body mass index, laboratory and cardiac testing. RESULTS: Of 1231 physicians, the median age was 48.0 ± 10.34 years, with 55.2% were female; 83.1% reported working <55 h per week, 29.7% exercised ≥3 days a week, and 28.0% were overweight or obese. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were found in 46.3%, 30.5%, and 75.8%, respectively. Abnormal findings were observed in 29.7% of chest X-rays, 17.7% of electrocardiograms, 33.0% of echocardiograms, 10.6% of exercise stress tests, and 3.8% of stress echocardiograms. Moderate/extensive coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were present in 12.7%. The prevalence of CVDs or CAD were 51.7% and 11.2%, respectively. Independent risk factors for CAD included older age, male gender, history and/or new findings of DM, and moderate to extensive CAC scores. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CVDs and CAD among Thai physicians is 51.7% and 11.2%, respectively. The independent risk for CAD was older age, male, having DM, and moderate to extensive CAC scores. The physicians who are at risk should be cautious, modify their lifestyle, and have appropriate screening/diagnostic testing for cardiac abnormality.

Exercise and associated features with low-level exercise among doctors.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity had been reported among doctors-in-training, with very few focusing on attending doctors. This study aimed to evaluate the physical activity, particularly exercise, of Thai doctors and features associated with low-level exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thai doctors who participated in the hospital's CSR service, which was conducted between Feb 14, 2022, to Oct 31, 2022, were verbally informed along with an information sheet about this parallel study. The doctors who consented to participate provided their personal data on diets, work hours, illnesses, health surveillance, stress, state of well-being, and exercise. To investigate the association with clinical features, the exercise level was categorized as low-level (≤ 2 days/week) or high-level (≥ 3 days/week). RESULTS: The median age of 1187 doctors was 45.0 years. Slightly over half were female (55.4%) or worked ≤ 40 hours/week (55.3%). The presence of illnesses was found in 55.9%, irregular health surveillance in 29.0%, no/low fiber diet in 19.2%, overweight/obesity in 28.0%, and moderate/severe stress in 25.9%. Among the doctors who provided exercise data, 29.8% had a high-level of exercise and 49.0% had a low-level. Independent features associated with low-level exercise were no/low fiber diet (aOR = 3.01), irregular health surveillance (aOR = 2.41), age ≤ 60 years (aOR = 1.82), female gender (aOR = 1.79), and work > 40 hours/week (aOR =  1.76). CONCLUSIONS: Only 30% of Thai doctors had a high level of exercise. The significant independent factors for low-level exercise were younger age, female, working load, irregular health surveillance, and no/ low fiber diet.

Exercise and associated features with low-level exercise among doctors

Abstract Background: Physical activity had been reported among doctors-in-training, with very few focusing on attending doctors. This study aimed to evaluate the physical activity, particularly exercise, of Thai doctors and features associated with low-level exercise. Materials and methods: Thai doctors who participated in the hospital's CSR service, which was conducted between Feb 14, 2022, to Oct 31, 2022, were verbally informed along with an information sheet about this parallel study. The doctors who consented to participate provided their personal data on diets, work hours, illnesses, health surveillance, stress, state of well-being, and exercise. To investigate the association with clinical features, the exercise level was categorized as low-level (≤ 2 days/week) or high-level (≥ 3 days/week). Results: The median age of 1187 doctors was 45.0 years. Slightly over half were female (55.4%) or worked ≤ 40 hours/week (55.3%). The presence of illnesses was found in 55.9%, irregular health surveillance in 29.0%, no/low fiber diet in 19.2%, overweight/obesity in 28.0%, and moderate/severe stress in 25.9%. Among the doctors who provided exercise data, 29.8% had a high-level of exercise and 49.0% had a low-level. Independent features associated with low-level exercise were no/low fiber diet (aOR = 3.01), irregular health surveillance (aOR = 2.41), age ≤ 60 years (aOR = 1.82), female gender (aOR = 1.79), and work > 40 hours/week (aOR = 1.76). Conclusions: Only 30% of Thai doctors had a high level of exercise. The significant independent factors for low-level exercise were younger age, female, working load, irregular health surveillance, and no/ low fiber diet.