Abstract
Objective: In Japan, the number of workers dispatched overseas is increasing. In particular, the expansion of Japanese companies to neighboring Asian countries is unprecedented, and many workers stay for a long period. Workers who apply for a visa to China are required to present a health certificate issued by a national or public hospital. Our center receives many requests for pre-travel health check-up before going to China. In this study, we introduce the present status of these health check-up, and discussed the appropriate state of health check-up in workers dispatched overseas. Methods: Of 2,138 workers who visited the travel clinic of our center between October 2005 and March 2006,428 who underwent health check-up to apply for a visa to China were enrolled in this study. The results of health check-up performed based on the items of the health certificate form prescribed by the Chinese government were analyzed. Results: The 428 workers consisted of 290 males and 138 females with a mean age of 36.7 years. The cities they would stay were Shanghai, Beijing, and Dalian, and the most frequent duration of stay was 3 years. As abnormal findings, those on electrocardiograms were often observed but did not require treatment. However, obesity was noted inl9%, and the possibility of metabolic syndrome was very high in some workers. Conclusion: The problems of health check-up in workers dispatched overseas are difficulty in the observation of the course, and the possible aggravation of chronic disorders due to changes in the diet and environment overseas. Occupational health physicians in each company should play a central role in the reinforcement of the follow-up system and improvement of health status before going overseas.
