University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing.
University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Workplace Health Saf. 2021 Dec;69(12):556-563. doi: 10.1177/21650799211016908. Epub 2021 Aug 23.
Most meatpacking workers have pain affecting their back, arms, and/or wrists from work-related repetitive motions, forceful exertion, and awkward positioning. Chronic musculoskeletal pain is associated with obesity, hypertension, type II diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Hispanic/Latino workers in the meatpacking industry are a vulnerable population; limited English, lack of health insurance, and fear of deportation often deter them from seeking care where preventable cardiovascular risks might be detected. The purpose of this study was to examine perceived health and actual cardiovascular risk among Hispanic/Latino meatpacking workers with musculoskeletal pain in Nebraska.
Structured interviews were used to examine perceived health, awareness of cardiometabolic risk, and capacity for health self-management. Body mass index (BMI), lipids, blood pressure, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and cardiorespiratory fitness (step test) were used to examine cardiovascular risk.
Of those interviewed ( = 39), musculoskeletal pain affected usual life activities in 64% ( = 25) of participants. Of those tested ( = 30), 93% ( = 28) had a BMI > 30 kg/m, 86% ( = 26) had at least one lipid abnormality, 50% ( = 15) had blood pressure > 120/80 mm Hg, and 43% ( = 13) had an HbA1c > 5.7%. Males had greater fitness than females ( = .03), but also greater lifetime risk of heart attack or stroke compared with females ( = .02).
CONCLUSION/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: In this sample, cardiovascular risk exceeded that found in the general Hispanic population in the United States. Occupational health nurses can assist workers to be aware of their risk by measuring and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education on blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, and HbA1c.
大多数肉类加工工人因工作相关的重复性动作、用力过猛和姿势不当而背痛、手臂和/或手腕疼痛。慢性肌肉骨骼疼痛与肥胖、高血压、二型糖尿病、心脏病发作和中风有关。肉类加工行业的西班牙裔/拉丁裔工人属于弱势群体；他们英语水平有限、缺乏医疗保险，并且担心被驱逐出境，这往往使他们无法在出现可预防的心血管风险时寻求医疗服务。本研究的目的是研究内布拉斯加州患有肌肉骨骼疼痛的西班牙裔/拉丁裔肉类加工工人的感知健康状况和实际心血管风险。
使用结构化访谈来检查感知健康、对心血管代谢风险的认识以及自我健康管理能力。使用体重指数 (BMI)、血脂、血压、糖化血红蛋白 (HbA1c) 和心肺适能（台阶测试）来检查心血管风险。
在所采访的人员中（n=39），64%（n=25）的参与者肌肉骨骼疼痛影响了正常的生活活动。在所测试的人员中（n=30），93%（n=28）的人 BMI 大于 30kg/m，86%（n=26）至少有一种血脂异常，50%（n=15）的血压大于 120/80mmHg，43%（n=13）的 HbA1c 大于 5.7%。男性的体能比女性好（p=0.03），但与女性相比，他们一生中患心脏病或中风的风险更高（p=0.02）。
结论/对实践的应用：在这个样本中，心血管风险超过了美国一般西班牙裔人群的风险。职业健康护士可以通过测量和提供血压、BMI、胆固醇和 HbA1c 的文化和语言适宜教育，帮助工人了解自己的风险。
