Use of Framingham Risk Score as a Clinical Tool for the Assessment of Fitness for Work: Results From a Cohort Study

J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Aug;58(8):805-9. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000795.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to validate the use of the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) as clinical tool to predict the risk of diagnosis of unsuitability for work in a cohort of Italian workers.

Methods: A cohort of workers has been observed from January 2006 to March 2014. FRS was calculated at each visit. Health surveillance diagnosis of unsuitability for work was selected as outcome.

Results: Two thousand eight hundred fifty seven workers were observed, 58.9% were men, mean age was 51.6 (±6.7), the mean FRS was 15.1% (±10.7%). Increased values of FRS at baseline were associated with increased rate of diagnosis of unsuitability for work (Hazard ratio [HR], 11.2, 95%CI, 3.3 to 37.8).

Conclusions: FRS is a strong predictor of diagnosis of unsuitability for work and should be used as a clinical tool for the assessment of fitness for work in health surveillance.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Risk Factors
  • Work Capacity Evaluation*