Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases and Heat Stress on Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Security Officers at a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Abstract

Background: The job profile of security officers in tropical countries involves prolonged standing in hot conditions causing heat stress as well as complications of sedentary lifestyle. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and heat stress in security officers and analyze factors affecting heat stress and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Materials and Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted among security personnel working at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the hottest months of March to May 2020. Screening camps were conducted during which anthropometric measurements were taken and blood was collected for hemoglobin, creatinine, and fasting glucose estimation. Urine dipstick analysis for glucose, protein, pH, and red and white blood cells were done on early morning voided sample. Heat stress was assessed by a validated 18-item questionnaire called heat strain score index (HSSI). A structured questionnaire was prepared for surveillance of risk factors of noncommunicable diseases. Results: A total of 678 security officers were screened. Majority (659/678, 97.2%) were men and mean age of the cohort was 45.4 ± 9.2 years. Fifty-two percent (355/678) of participants were engaged in outdoor work for a median duration of 6 (IQR, 0-8) hours/day. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were 70.9, 25.5, 15.9 and 1.3 percentage, respectively. Half of the cohort (324/678) had definite heat stress and 0.9% (6/678) developed CKD of undetermined etiology. Heat stress was higher in those working outdoors and longer employment duration and lower in those with abdominal obesity. eGFR was lower in older officers, smokers, hypertensives, and those with longer employment duration, but was unaffected by HSSI scores. Conclusion: Kidney function was unaffected by high levels of heat stress experienced by security personnel working at a tertiary hospital in South India. Future studies are needed to understand the pathomechanisms of differential impacts of heat stress on kidney function of agricultural various worker categories.