Atheromatous Risk Factors Among Thai Labor Forces by
Socioeconomic Status
KULA YA NARKS A W AT, DDS, MPH*, AMORNRATH PODHIPAK, PhD*,
PORAPAN PUNYARATABUNDHU, MD, MSPH*, JONGKOL PODANG, MSc*
Affiliation : * Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
AbstractThe purpose of this study was to describe atheromatous risk factors among Thai labor forces
by socioeconomic status (SES) such as income, education and occupation. Undesirable levels of arthero
matous risk factors were specified as: total serum cholesterol (TC) > 200 mg per cent, body mass index
(BMI) > 25 kg/m2 , fasting blood sugar (FBS) > 126 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 140 mmHg
and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 90 mmHg. Data from the Second National Health Examination
survey in Thailand from 1996 to 1997 was used, with a total number of 4,198 participants (1,634 males,
2,561 females) aged 13-60 years old.
Results from multivariate analysis demonstrated differences in means TC, BMI, SBP and
DBP among different age-groups, both in males and females (p < 0.001). TC, BMI, and SBP increased
with age in both sexes, but DBP increased with age in females only. Males who lived in a municipality
had a higher risk of having undesirable TC and DBP than those who did not. Risk of undesirable BMI
varied according to levels of income in males. Males with an income of 5,001-10,000 and> 25,000
baht/month had OR= 1.57 (95% CI = 1.04-2.39) and OR= 2.59 (95% CI = 1.18-5.66) compared to
males with an income of< 5,000 baht/month. TC and DBP varied with levels of income in females. For
undesirable TC, females with an income of 5,001-10,000 and> 25,000 baht/month had OR= 1.48
(95% CI = 1.01-2.18) and OR = 2.17 (95% CI = 1.03-4.88) compared to females with an income of
< 5,000 baht/month. For undesirable DBP, females with an income > 25,000 baht/month had OR =
3.39 (95% CI = 1.31-8.78) compared to females with income an< 5,000 baht/month. Among different
levels of education in males, different risks of undesirable TC, BMI, SBP and DBP were not signifi
cant, except a borderline significance in TC among vocational graduates. The same phenomenon was
observed among females, except that females only a primary education tended to have a higher risk of
undesirable BMI (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.39-5.02) compared to females with graduate studies. The
level of occupation seemed not to affect the risk of unfavorable atheromatous risk factors among males.
Nonetheless, females in the agricultural section seemed to have a lower risk of undesirable TC (OR =
0.38, 95% CI = 0.18-0.78) compared to the professional group.
The results suggested the consideration of critical guidance of epidemiological studies in
using SES as the control variable, or for selection of subjects or matching criteria. Specific preventive
programs on atheromatous risk factors should be launched for some specific socio-demographic groups
in order to prevent coronary heart diseases (CHD) in the future.
Keywords : Socio-Economic, Atheromatous Risk Factors, Thai Labor Forces, National Health Exami
nation Survey
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