Chicas Roxana C, Zhuang Cathy, Castellano Andrea, Trejo Leslie, Ruiz Ernesto, Hertzberg Vicki
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Farmworker Association of Florida, Apopka, Florida, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2025 Mar;68(3):304-310. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23692. Epub 2024 Dec 20.
While construction workers have the second highest rate of heat-related mortality, less is known about the prevelance of heat-related illness (HRI) symptoms, dehydration and kidney dysfunction. The aim of this study was to conduct a biomedical field-based study with construction workers to characterize HRI symptoms, dehydration, and kidney dysfunction, and analyze relationships between post-work urine specific gravity (USG) percentiles and predictors such as work hours, water consumption, and sugary beverage consumption.
In collaboration with the Farmworker Association of Florida, 58 construction workers in Central Florida were monitored pre- and post-work shift on one workday. Research staff used a recreational vehicle to meet workers at their worksites, collect blood and urine pre- and post-work shift, and administer a survey on HRI symptoms. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was measured using serum creatinine and dehydration with USG. Predictors were examined in single covariate linear quantile mixed models against USG percentiles.
The mean heat index was 88.4°F. Forty-two percent reported at least one symptom of HRI. Dehydration rates were 75% pre-work shift and 78% post-work shift. Severe dehydration increased from 16% to 33%. AKI was observed in 38% of the participants.
This is, to our knowledge, the first US field-based biomedical study to document AKI, dehydration, and HRI symptoms in construction workers. This study adds to the literature that supports occupational heat exposure as a risk factor for AKI and dehydration.
虽然建筑工人的热相关死亡率位居第二，但对于热相关疾病（HRI）症状、脱水和肾功能障碍的患病率了解较少。本研究的目的是对建筑工人开展一项基于生物医学领域的研究，以描述热相关疾病症状、脱水和肾功能障碍的特征，并分析工作后尿比重（USG）百分位数与工作时长、水摄入量和含糖饮料摄入量等预测因素之间的关系。
与佛罗里达农场工人协会合作，在一个工作日对佛罗里达州中部的58名建筑工人进行班前和班后的监测。研究人员使用一辆休闲车在工人的工作地点与他们会合，收集班前和班后的血液和尿液，并进行一项关于热相关疾病症状的调查。使用血清肌酐测量急性肾损伤（AKI），用尿比重测量脱水情况。在单协变量线性分位数混合模型中针对尿比重百分位数检验预测因素。
平均热指数为88.4°F。42%的人报告至少有一种热相关疾病症状。班前脱水率为75%，班后为78%。严重脱水从16%增至33%。38%的参与者出现急性肾损伤。
据我们所知，这是美国第一项基于生物医学领域的研究，记录了建筑工人的急性肾损伤、脱水和热相关疾病症状。本研究补充了支持职业性热暴露是急性肾损伤和脱水风险因素的文献。
