Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening

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dc.contributor.authorKolbe-Alexander, Tracy Len_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBuckmaster, Chrisen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNossel, Craigen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDreyer, Liezelen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBull, Fionaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNoakes, Timothy Den_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLambert, Estelleen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-28T06:46:39Z
dc.date.available2015-10-28T06:46:39Z
dc.date.issued2008en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) accounts for more than a third (37%) of all deaths in South Africa. However, this burden of disease can be reduced by addressing risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the health and risk profile of South African employees presenting for health risk assessments and to measure their readiness to change and improve lifestyle behaviour. METHODS: Employees (n = 1954) from 18 companies were invited to take part in a wellness day, which included a health-risk assessment. Self-reported health behaviour and health status was recorded. Clinical measures included cholesterol finger-prick test, blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI). Health-related age was calculated using an algorithm incorporating the relative risk for all case mortality associated with smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, BMI and cholesterol. Medical claims data were obtained from the health insurer. RESULTS: The mean percentage of participation was 26% (n = 1954) and ranged from 4% in transport to 81% in the consulting sector. Health-related age (38.5 +/- 12.9 years) was significantly higher than chronological age (34.9 +/- 10.3 yrs) (p < 0.001). Both chronological and risk-related age were significantly different between the sectors (P < 0.001), with the manufacturing sector being the oldest and finance having the youngest employees. Health-related age was significantly associated with number of days adversely affected by mental and physical health, days away from work and total annual medical costs (p < 0.001). Employees had higher rates of overweight, smoking among men, and physical inactivity (total sample) when compared the general SA population. Increased health-related expenditure was associated with increased number of risk factors, absenteeism and reduced physical activity. CONCLUSION: SA employees' health and lifestyle habits are placing them at increased risk for NCD's, suggesting that they may develop NCD's earlier than expected. Inter-sectoral differences for health-related age might provide insight into those companies which have the greatest need for interventions, and may also assist in predicting future medical expenditure. This study underscores the importance of determining the health and risk status of employees which could assist in identifying the appropriate interventions to reduce the risk of NCD's among employees.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationKolbe-Alexander, T. L., Buckmaster, C., Nossel, C., Dreyer, L., Bull, F., Noakes, T. D., & Lambert, E. (2008). Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening. <i>BMC Public Health</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14425en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKolbe-Alexander, Tracy L, Chris Buckmaster, Craig Nossel, Liezel Dreyer, Fiona Bull, Timothy D Noakes, and Estelle Lambert "Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening." <i>BMC Public Health</i> (2008) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14425en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKolbe-Alexander, T. L., Buckmaster, C., Nossel, C., Dreyer, L., Bull, F., Noakes, T. D., & Lambert, E. V. (2008). Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening. BMC Public Health, 8(1), 228.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy L AU - Buckmaster, Chris AU - Nossel, Craig AU - Dreyer, Liezel AU - Bull, Fiona AU - Noakes, Timothy D AU - Lambert, Estelle AB - BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) accounts for more than a third (37%) of all deaths in South Africa. However, this burden of disease can be reduced by addressing risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the health and risk profile of South African employees presenting for health risk assessments and to measure their readiness to change and improve lifestyle behaviour. METHODS: Employees (n = 1954) from 18 companies were invited to take part in a wellness day, which included a health-risk assessment. Self-reported health behaviour and health status was recorded. Clinical measures included cholesterol finger-prick test, blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI). Health-related age was calculated using an algorithm incorporating the relative risk for all case mortality associated with smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, BMI and cholesterol. Medical claims data were obtained from the health insurer. RESULTS: The mean percentage of participation was 26% (n = 1954) and ranged from 4% in transport to 81% in the consulting sector. Health-related age (38.5 +/- 12.9 years) was significantly higher than chronological age (34.9 +/- 10.3 yrs) (p < 0.001). Both chronological and risk-related age were significantly different between the sectors (P < 0.001), with the manufacturing sector being the oldest and finance having the youngest employees. Health-related age was significantly associated with number of days adversely affected by mental and physical health, days away from work and total annual medical costs (p < 0.001). Employees had higher rates of overweight, smoking among men, and physical inactivity (total sample) when compared the general SA population. Increased health-related expenditure was associated with increased number of risk factors, absenteeism and reduced physical activity. CONCLUSION: SA employees' health and lifestyle habits are placing them at increased risk for NCD's, suggesting that they may develop NCD's earlier than expected. Inter-sectoral differences for health-related age might provide insight into those companies which have the greatest need for interventions, and may also assist in predicting future medical expenditure. This study underscores the importance of determining the health and risk status of employees which could assist in identifying the appropriate interventions to reduce the risk of NCD's among employees. DA - 2008 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1471-2458-8-228 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - BMC Public Health LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2008 T1 - Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening TI - Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14425 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14425
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-228
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKolbe-Alexander TL, Buckmaster C, Nossel C, Dreyer L, Bull F, Noakes TD, et al. Chronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screening. BMC Public Health. 2008; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14425.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentMRC/UCT RU for Exercise and Sport Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licenseen_ZA
dc.rights.holder2008 Kolbe-Alexander et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0en_ZA
dc.sourceBMC Public Healthen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/en_ZA
dc.subject.otherOccupational and Environmental Healthen_ZA
dc.titleChronic disease risk factors, healthy days and medical claims in South African employees presenting for health risk screeningen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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