Health differences by job type among Chinese workers in Guinea

Researchers used convenience sampling to recruit 800 Chinese workers employed in Guinea for an online cross-sectional survey. Participants reported chronic diseases and past infectious diseases and completed the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 mental health questionnaires. The study compared outcomes between manual and non-manual workers and used multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol use and years working overseas.

At least one chronic condition was reported by 40.8% of non-manual workers and 27.7% of manual workers (P<0.001); the adjusted difference remained significant. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia and gout or hyperuricemia were more prevalent among non-manual workers, while diabetes prevalence did not differ significantly. Previous malaria infection was more common among manual workers (60.7% vs. 50.7%; P=0.023), including after adjustment. The difference in reported typhoid history was no longer significant after adjustment.

Non-manual workers had higher anxiety and depression scores. After adjustment, only the difference in subclinical anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score ≥5) remained significant; depressive symptoms at the ≥5 threshold and differences at the ≥10 thresholds were not significant. Convenience sampling and self-reported health data limit generalizability and interpretation. The findings describe associations and do not establish that occupational type caused the differences.