Health characteristics of inland waterway merchant marine captains and pilots.

BACKGROUND Most published studies on seafarer health have focused on patterns of mortality, injury and communicable diseases. Little information is available regarding lifestyle-related cardio-metabolic disease in maritime populations. AIMS To describe health characteristics of a population of US inland waterway merchant marine captains and pilots. METHODS A cross-sectional study of the health characteristics of mariners required to complete the United States Coast Guard physical assessment at a regional medical centre from 2003-10. Variables collected included self-reported smoking status, body mass index, fasting lipids, glucose and triglyceride levels, blood pressure and treadmill time and maximal oxygen uptake as measured using the Bruce Protocol. Major medical conditions related to lifestyle and risk for metabolic syndrome were also assessed. RESULTS There were 388 participants. The study population had high prevalence of obesity (61%), smoking (41%), high triglycerides (42%), low HDL cholesterol (47%), high blood pressure (42%), high fasting glucose (22%) and three or more features of the metabolic syndrome (39%). CONCLUSIONS This population exhibited a high prevalence of chronic disease risk factors and could potentially benefit from health promotion programmes aimed at improving health and fitness.