Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among Hotel Workers, Bohicon, Benin

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the increase in several sectors of activity. The aim of the study was to determine the frequencies of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and factors associated with hypertension among hotel workers in the city of Bohicon. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the period from December 2018 to January 2019. The variables studied were sociodemographic, occupational, anthropometric and behavioral. Participant recruitment was exhaustive. A standardized questionnaire inspired by the STEPS-WHO questionnaire was used for data collection. After the descriptive analysis, a bivariate analysis was performed using Pearson’s Chi-square test or Fisher’s test at the 5% threshold. Results: A total of 101 workers, 53 (52.47%) of them male, participated in the study. The mean age was 30.60 ± 8.20 years, with extremes of 18 and 55 years. The frequencies of the main risk factors were: 68.32% sitting position > 6 hours/day;38.61% shift work;21.78% high psychological demand, 82.18% low decision latitude, 24.75% low social support, 21.78% occupational stress;7 (6.93%) harmful alcohol consumption;6.93% tobacco consumption;48.51% insufficient physical activity;98.02% insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption;59.41% overweight;14.85% HTA. Factors associated with hypertension were: sex, age and marital status. Conclusion: Occupational factors need to be taken into account when assessing CVRFs. NCD control programs are needed in all sectors of activity. A larger study is needed in the hotel sector.

Extraprofessional and Occupational Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancers （CRC） account for frequent and serious cancers which result from the interaction between individual genetic factors and environmental factors, and in particular widely studied nutritional ones. The role of other occupational factors remains a controversial subject. The objective of this study is to evaluate the possible impact of occupational factors on the risk of developing CRC. Materials and Methods： This is a retrospective case-control study. The cases and the control group were enlisted in the general surgical ward of Farhat Hached Teaching Hospital of Sousse （Tunisia） during the period extending from 2004 to 2008, and they were age and gender-matched. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0 software with a signification threshold fixed at 5%. A univariate analysis was carried out as well as a multiple binary logistical regression. Results： During the period of the study, 40 cases of colorectal cancers have been colligated including 28 men and 12 women with a sex ratio of 0.43. The average age of the cases was 61.55 ± 13.3 years and 60.40 ± 12.84 years for the control group, with a non significant difference （P = 0.69）. The univariate analysis has objectivized significant associations between colorectal cancer and the housing conditions, the neoplastic and digestive family history, the occupational activity sector, exposure to pesticides, and lack of periodic medical supervision. After logistical regression, the occurrence risk of CRC was significantly associated with： alcohol and smoking （ORa = 3.43; Pa = 0.05）, meat consumption （ORa = 3.34; Pa = 0.03）, exposure to pesticides （ORa = 20.44; Pa = 0.012） and lack of periodic medical supervision （OR = 7.45; P = 0.004）. Conclusion： The occupational risk factors might play a role in the etiopathogenesis of colorectal cancers. With regard to our study, pesticides seem to be most implicated and necessitate suitable preventive measures. Nevertheless, it seems useful to multiply the studies to a much larger scale in order to further explore such relationship and to further reinforce the prevention of such serious disease.