Background: Cardiovascular diseases are still the most common cause of death from natural causes among seafarers. The aim of the study was to determine which of the cardiovascular risk factors listed in the current recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology occur among seafarers.
Materials and methods: The paper is a review of literature from PubMed Database.
Results: Based on conducted analysis of over 31 papers high prevalence of classic and other cardiovascular risk factors among seafarers was proven. The most common risk factors among off-shore workers are overweight and obesity (over 64%); moreover, these factors occur more often among seafarers than in the general popula- tion. Also hypertension, smoking, type 2 diabetes and unfavourable lipid profile were present more often in this occupational group. In the analysed studies attention was also paid to factors often overlooked in risk assess- ment such as mental and inflammatory illnesses, unfavourable working conditions and psychological burden.
Conclusions: Seafarers have a higher cardiovascular risk because, among other things, the prevalence of "old and new" risk factors among them is higher than in general population.
Keywords: cardiovascular risk; hypertension; ischaemic heart disease; seafarers; stroke.