Background and Aim: Hyperlipidemia is a potential threat to the health of all members of society. There are several factors that contribute to hyperlipidemia, including work environment, occupation, and lifestyle that should be considered. The present study for the first time in Iran aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in Iranian sailors in 2018.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 Iranian sailors during 2018. To collect data, the standard health assessment questionnaire of the Iranian Ministry of Health was used. Demographic characteristics including age, sex, marital status, level of education, physical activity, height and weight were recorded. To assess the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL; 5 ml of fasting blood samples were taken from sailors.
Results: The mean age of 274 Iranian sailors was 41.3±7.9 years (range 29 to 58 years). Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were reported being higher than normal in 37.6%, 32.6%, and 49.4% of sailors, respectively, and HDL cholesterol was lower than normal in 28.5% of sailors. There was a correlation between high BMI (0.155), abdominal obesity (0.244) and low physical activity (0.101) with hypertriglyceridemia.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of hyperlipidemia in Iranian sailors indicates the need for effective measures to raise awareness, improve the lifestyle and prevent risk factors for non-communicable diseases in these individuals.