Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors Among a Cohort of Mine Workers in Mongolia.

Abstract

Prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) is growing among workers globally, causing 71% of all premature deaths. We determined baseline prevalence of risk factors among mine workers. One thousand one hundred sixty-nine employees were randomly recruited to a cross-sectional study. The study focused on key risk factors of hypertension, obesity, alcohol use, and smoking status. These factors are known key contributors to NCD risk. Results of the study showed prevalence's of hypertension 12.9%, obesity 64.1%, alcohol users 22.1%, and smokers 38.8%. The general population prevalence's are 27.5%, 56.8%, 15.5%, and 24.8%, respectively. Prevalence of hypertension for the study cohort was lower than general population which may be the healthy worker effect. Obesity, alcohol use, and smoking rates however, were slightly higher in the study cohort. Reducing the prevalence of risk factors will require significant resources.