Prevalence of hypertension and associated occupational factors among steel and ceramic tile workers in Vietnam

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Industrial workers, particularly those exposed to unfavorable working conditions and high work intensity, may be at increased risk. However, evidence on hypertension among industrial workers operating under tropical hot and humid conditions remains limited.
We aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and analyze associated factors among steel workers and ceramic tile workers in Vietnam.
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2022 among 1 228 production workers from two industrial enterprises, including 836 steel workers and 392 ceramic tile workers. Blood pressure was measured using a standardized protocol. Structured interviews were used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, job stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Hypertension was defined according to Vietnamese Ministry of Health guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary analyses to estimate crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).
The overall prevalence of hypertension was 22,3%. Ceramic tile workers exhibited a higher prevalence of hypertension (39,8%) compared with steel workers (14,1%) (p < 0.001). Workers aged ≥35 years had a higher likelihood of hypertension than those aged <35 years (OR = 2,2; 95% CI: 1,71–2,95). Similarly, workers with a working duration of ≥10 years were more likely to have hypertension than those with <10 years of employment (OR = 3,6; 95% CI: 2,70–4,85). High proportions of workers reported smoking and harmful alcohol consumption in both occupational groups.
Conclusion. Hypertension represents an important occupational health problem among industrial workers in Vietnam, particularly among older workers and those with longer working duration, highlighting the potential role of prolonged exposure to unfavorable working conditions in tropical industrial settings.

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