Work- and hydration-related health outcomes prevalence among USA construction workers

Evidence from the national survey

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22081925
AutoresMuinat Abolore Idris (0000-0002-0438-4764, The University of Texas Health Science Center, autor de correspondencia), Anna Gitter (0000-0003-4642-0636, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Eva Deemer (0000-0001-9112-8971, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Yue Zhang (0000-0003-1198-882X, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Jingjing Gao (0000-0002-8521-2541, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)
Año2026
Volumen13
Páginas1721825-1721825
Fecha de publicación2026-01-14
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
EditorialFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1721825
PMID41613085
OpenAlexW7123840790
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas46

Background: Construction workers face elevated risks of heat-related illnesses, yet hydration and rest break policies remain inconsistent across regions and are not federally mandated. Objective: To evaluate the association between occupational conditions and hydration-related health outcomes among national construction workers, focusing on regional disparities and policy relevance amid increasing ambient temperatures. Methods: We analyzed 2023 National Health Interview Survey data, focusing on adults employed in the construction industry (n = 1,231) versus other industries (n = 16,241). We assessed participant self-reported back pain, diagnosed fatigue, cognitive difficulty, injury, and general health, while using regional indicators with higher temperatures, and the 2023-2024 national record-breaking heatwave, as hydration proxies. Weighted descriptive statistics, multivariate regression models, and sensitivity analyses were used to examine associations. Results: West region construction workers had the largest negative associations with back pain (β = -0.18), injury (β = -0.52), cognitive difficulty (β = -0.15), and better general health (β = -0.09), followed by the Midwest and Southern region workers for back pain and better general health. Workers' race, sex, educational attainment, Body Mass Index (BMI), and marital status play a crucial role in workers' reported health outcomes, with non-Hispanic Asians at higher odds of severe back pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulty. Conclusion: Hydration access is a critical, yet underregulated factor in preventing heat-related health outcomes in occupational settings across the USA. There is an urgent need for enforceable national standards mandating water and rest breaks for construction workers, particularly in high-heat regions given recent policies that have removed water breaks in the Southern region

MEDLINE · National Health Interview Survey · Public health · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research · Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Health Policy