Not Quite Out of the Woods: Overall Health and Chronic Disease Risk Factors among Maine Logging Workers

Abstract

Objective: This research reports on the health status, including chronic disease risk factors, among Maine loggers.

Methods: Loggers completed a survey and health screenings were held across Maine, collecting data on a variety of health endpoints.

Results: Seventy-five loggers participated. The majority were men (97.1%) with a median age of 46, and a mean BMI of 30.6 kg/m2 (SD 4.9). Nearly half of those screened (45.9%) had blood pressure at the level of stage II hypertension. Loggers with at least a single joint abnormality were 38.4%. The health screening cohort was similar to the non-health screening cohort for many attributes.

Conclusions: Future research should focus on tailored interventions to improve cardiovascular and musculoskeletal risk factors among loggers.