Simultaneity of health risk factors among Brazilian workers

Introduction:  Health indicators are essential tools and, when analyzed jointly, can guide occupational health policies.

Objectives:  To analyze the prevalence and demographic variables associated with the simultaneity of health risk factors among Brazilian workers.

Methods:  This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study developed based on data from the 2019 National Health Survey. A total of 28,188 formal workers aged 15 years or older were included. Four risk behaviors were analyzed: smoking, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical inactivity, and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables. Multiple binary and multinomial logistic regression models were used, adjusted for sociodemographic variables.

Results:  Only 8.2% of workers had no risk factors, whereas 39.7% had two factors and 24.0% had three or four simultaneously. Male workers, those with lower educational levels, and those who were single or divorced had higher odds of simultaneous exposure to risk factors. The probability of exposure progressively decreased in older age groups.

Conclusions:  The findings reinforce the importance of intersectoral strategies aimed at health promotion and the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases in the workplace, especially among more vulnerable groups.

Keywords
occupational health; health risk behaviors; sociodemographic factors; epidemiology; chronic noncommunicable diseases.