Cardiometabolic profile of 15057 elderly Spanish workers: association of sociodemographic variables and tobacco consumption

BACKGROUND: Aging of the world population is one of the most significant demographic changes of our time. Populations older than 60 years are heterogeneous, and age is an independent cardiovascular risk factor aggravated by frailty, obesity, and diabetes, and influenced by several factors, including sex and socioeconomic status. The objective of this study was to calculate cardiovascular risk in workers of both sexes over 60 years of age and to assess whether there are difference s by sex, social class, smoking, and type of job. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 15,057 elderly Spanish workers from different autonomous communities in Spain and with different labor occupations. Anthropometric, sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory values were determined. People were classified according to age from 60 to 64 years inclusive and from 65 to 69 years, smokers and non-smokers, and both blue-collar and white-collar workers. Subsequently, a multivariate analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Men, blue-collar workers, smokers, and aging were factors that influenced cardiovascular risk: with an OR of 3.27 (95% CI: 2.64–4.05) in people 65 years of age or older versus the younger group, and an OR of 3.15 (95% CI: 2.69–3.69) in smokers versus non-smokers. A stronger independent association was found between smoking, age, and cardiovascular risk. The risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver and liver fibrosis was much higher in men than in women, with an OR of 4.06 (95% CI: 3.66–4.50) for the former and an OR of 2.10 (95% CI: 1.95–2.26) for the BARD index. CONCLUSIONS: The highest risk groups were observed in male subjects with a history of smoking and blue-collar workers and, as such, should be considered for cardiovascular risk screening programs.