Risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases among bank employees - a biochemical approach

In different epidemiological studies, an association between sedentary life style and incidence of cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. This study was carried out among 50 sedentary bank employees working at differe nt nationalized banks within Calcutta City, India and 50 individuals with n on-sedentary jobs matched for age group and sex for the control group. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), plasma level of glucose, total chol esterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglycerides (Tgs) were found to be significantly higher whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) and reduced glutathione were found to be signifi cantly lower among the bank employees as compared with the control subjects . Further, significant alteration in the activity of different enzymes (e.g ., glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glucose 6 phosphate de hydrogenase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) involved in glutathione-med iated antioxidant scavenging systems and increases in lipid peroxidation we re also observed in the bank employees. From the study, it appears that the relative risk for cardiovascular disease is increased among bank employees due to the sedentary nature of their jobs.