Health risk factors and occupation among Iowa workers

Background: Health behaviors represent major risks for premature morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to establish whether health risks varied su bstantially across occupational groups. Methods: We focused on the 2223 Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Sy stem (BRFSS) subjects who reported, in 1999, that they were currently worki ng. Results: Even after controlling for age and gender, we found significant as sociations between occupation and health risk factors. We found these assoc iations among the different categories of health risk factors, including in surance/access, health conditions, preventive behaviors, and screening beha viors. Conclusions: The considerable differences in the prevalence of risk factors for chronic disease and injury across occupational groups in Iowa undersco re the need for nationwide ongoing collection of occupational status in the BRFSS. These national data on the distribution of risk factors across occu pations will support development of more targeted prevention interventions.