The aim of the study was to find out the occurrence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in employees of a big hospital. The authors examined 3124 employees of a big hospital in the framework of occupational preventive examinations between 2002 and 2005. 2562 women and 562 men were examined, their average age was 36.2 years. The employees filled in the questionnaire on basic risk factors and their BMI, blood pressure and basic values of spectrum of lipids were examined. Prevalence of smoking in men was more than 29 %, in women 27 %. The disorder of lipid metabolism was found in 39 % of men and 41 % of women. Overweight was found in 41.6 % of men and 20.6 % of women. Adequate physical activity was reported by 65.9 % of men and 58.2 % of women. Prevalence of hypertension reached 34 % in men and 17.9 % in women. The occurrence of risk factors in our sample is high, in discussion it is compared with the occurrence in population and with the occurrence found in other studies in health workers in CR and abroad. The authors recommend the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases to become the part of occupational preventive examinations.

        Key words: health workers, cardiovascular diseases, risk factors