Atherogenic risk and its association with alcohol consumption, lifestyle habits, and sociodemographic factors in a population of Spanish workers

Atherogenic dyslipidemia is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While lipid abnormalities are well-established clinical risk factors, growing evidence highlights the influence of sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants on lipid profiles. However, large-scale epidemiological data addressing these associations within occupational settings remain limited.
A study assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between atherogenic risk-measured through TC/HDL-c, LDL-c/HDL-c, TG/HDL-c ratios, and atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD)-and sociodemographic variables, health behaviours, and alcohol consumption in a large cohort of Spanish workers.
A dual-phase study was conducted. The first phase was a cross-sectional analysis of 139,634 workers (83,282 men; 56,352 women) from multiple employment sectors undergoing routine occupational health assessments. The second phase was a longitudinal study of a subsample (n = 40,431) with complete data from 2009 and 2019. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected using standardised protocols. Lifestyle factors (smoking, physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, alcohol intake) and socioeconomic indicators (education, occupational class) were recorded. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine independent associations with high-risk atherogenic profiles.
Higher atherogenic indices and prevalence of AD were associated with advancing age, lower educational level, lower social class, smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet quality, and alcohol consumption. Men exhibited higher TG/HDL-c and AD values, whereas women had higher TC/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c. Physical inactivity showed the strongest association with TG/HDL-c (OR: 36.23; 95% CI: 32.12-40.35) and AD (OR: 16.86; 95% CI: 14.80-18.93). Alcohol intake also independently predicted higher TG/HDL-c (OR: 1.60) and AD (OR: 1.79). Over the decade, a general increase in atherogenic risk was observed, especially among older adults, socially disadvantaged groups, and those with unhealthy behaviours.
Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, particularly physical inactivity and alcohol consumption are strongly associated with adverse atherogenic profiles in the working population. The authors suggest that the observed rise in lipid-related cardiovascular risk over the past decade emphasises the urgent need for workplace-based health promotion strategies targeting modifiable behaviours and structural health inequalities.
Source: Obrador de Hevia J, López-González ÁA, Ramírez-Manent JI, Busquets-Cortes C, Tárraga López PJ, García Samuelsson M, Riutord-Sbert P. Atherogenic Risk and Its Association with Alcohol Consumption, Lifestyle Habits, and Sociodemographic Factors in a Population of Spanish Workers. Life. 2025; 15(6):923. doi.org/10.3390/life15060923