Association between occupations and selected noncommunicable diseases: A matched case‐control among Thai informal workers

Objectives We conducted a matched case‐control study of informal workers to determine the association between occupational classification and selected types of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Method We extracted data of patients aged ≥18 years from the Thai National Health Security Office database (NHSO) during 2011‐2014. Cases were patients who had a primary diagnosis of: diabetes mellitus (E10‐E14), hypertension (I10‐I15), ischemic heart disease (I20‐I25) or stroke (I60‐69), or thyroid gland disorder (E00‐E07). Controls were patients who had a primary diagnosis of intestinal or parasitic infections (A00‐A09 and B25‐B99), and were randomly matched 1:1 with cases of the same age and residential area. The four‐digit occupation codes recorded in the NHSO were grouped and recoded based on the submajor groups of International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO‐08) as follows: agricultural workers, unskilled workers, service, and sales workers. Analysis was performed using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Results Occupation and sex inequalities were present among all the selected NCDs. Higher risk for the four selected NCDs was found among unskilled workers. Stronger risk for cardiovascular disease was present among males, while females had a higher risk for metabolic disorders. Conclusions There is a need to understand what are the key factors that increase the risk for NCDs among informal sector workers. Health promotion campaigns are needed to raise awareness among economically and social disadvantaged informal workers about the risk for NCDs. This will require collaboration between public health and the workforce, and allocation of government budgets to address the needs of these workers.