The Relationship between Cold Exposure and Hypertension

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 300 - 306
• Main Authors: Kim, Joon‐Youn, Jung, Kap‐Yeol, Hong, Young‐Seoub, Kim, Jung‐Il, Jang, Tae‐Won, Kim, Jung‐Man
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia JAPAN SOCIETY FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 01.09.2003; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Blood pressure; Body temperature; Case-Control Studies; Cold; Cold exposure; Cold regions; Cold Temperature - adverse effects; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - etiology; Laboratory tests; Logistic Models; Male; Milk; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational health; Refrigeration; Regression analysis; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1341-9145; 1348-9585; 1348-9585
• DOI: 10.1539/joh.45.300

The Relationship between Cold Exposure and Hypertension : Joon-Youn KIM, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College, Dong-A University, Korea-This study was performed to determine whether there was any relationship between cold exposure and hypertension, and to evaluate risk factors affecting hypertension in cold-exposed workers. In 11 refrigeration industries, 68 male workers working in cold areas more than once per day were selected as the cold-exposed group, and 68 workers not exposed to cold were selected as the control group. The questionnaire survey, clinical and laboratory tests were performed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in the cold-exposed group, and body core temperature was significantly lower in the cold-exposed group (p<0.05). In logistic regression analysis, age, cold exposure severity and milk intake were significant variables affecting hypertension in cold-exposed workers, whose odd ratios were 5.204 (95% Cl 1.440-18.812), 2.674 (95% Cl 1.080-6.618), and 0.364 (95% Cl 0.141-0.942), respectively. Cold exposure was a risk factor for hypertension, and risk factors affecting hypertension in cold exposed workers were age, cold exposure severity, and milk intake. Therefore, cold exposed workers should minimize cold exposure time as much as possible, and ingest foods containing calcium such as milk. In particular, old workers working in cold areas should check their blood pressure and electrocardiogram periodically. (J Occup Health 2003 ; 45 : 300-306)