RESPONSE TO A SIMPLE VASCULAR TEST FOR WORKERS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO COLD

C., Fahmy; A., Kamel

doi:10.21608/ejom.2009.678

RESPONSE TO A SIMPLE VASCULAR TEST FOR WORKERS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO COLD

Document Type : Study paper

Authors

Fahmy C. ¹
Kamel A. ²

¹ Department of Occupational Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University.

² Department of Occupational Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University

10.21608/ejom.2009.678

Abstract

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate local and systemic responses to cold provocation testing as a simple vascular test for workers chronically exposed to cold. Materials and Methods: The study included 22 male workers from cold storage facilities and a matched non-exposed control group of 20 subjects. All participants were non-hypertensives and free from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. They were subjected to a questionnaire, resting blood pressure measurement, cold provocation testing and Doppler radial systolic blood pressure measurement before and after cold provocation. Results: Hypertensive response was observed more significantly among cold exposed workers than controls (p= 0.003). Blanching response to cold was not significantly different between exposed and control groups. Coupled response was significantly higher among cold exposed workers than controls (p= 0,006) and it was independently determined by duration of exposure (p= 0.001). Conclusion: It seems that coupled response to cold provocation testing is a simple outcome measure for screening chronically exposed workers to cold.

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