Lifestyles and health conditions of truck drivers in Bauru

Abstract

Introduction: Drivers are professionals susceptible to health problems, as in this occupation there is exposure to a sedentary lifestyle, inadequate eating habits, obesity, alcohol and tobacco use, poor quality sleep, among others1,2,3. The profession also interferes with the driver's family life and social life. Objective: The main objective of this study was to carry out an epidemiological analysis of the health status of truck drivers and drivers, observing the prevalence of certain diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, low back pain, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and eye diseases; as well as lifestyle habits at risk for developing these diseases, such as diet, toxic control (drugs and alcohol) and sleep. In addition to the application of questionnaires, educational activities were carried out on the aforementioned conditions for the interviewees. Method: Adult drivers over 18 years of age were evaluated on various health aspects during the year 2023, by applying questionnaires and carrying out a physical examination on the participants, in order to observe their lifestyle habits and health status. of the studied population. At the end of the assessment, educational activities related specifically to the clinical conditions observed in each driver interviewed were carried out. The health status of the participants was assessed based on a physical examination, anthropometric measurements, ophthalmoscopic examination, analysis of the screening test for involvement with alcohol, tobacco and other substances (ASSIST)1, blood pressure and blood glucose measurements. All data collected were recorded in medical records prepared especially for this purpose. This study was approved by the institution's ethics committee (CAAE: 65520522.9.0000.5417). Results: At the end of this study, 71 drivers were interviewed and agreed to participate in the research. The data collected demonstrated that the studied population is aged between 26 and 78 years old, all male, with the majority (69.01%) having at least one child. Regarding periods off, the answers were varied, with the majority (38.02%) saying they had two to three days off per week; two, (2.81%) 36 hours a week; two (2.81%) claimed to only stop to “eat and sleep”; and 34 (47.89%) did not have an established pattern for rest. Regarding anthropometric measurements, while only 19.71% of the interviewees had a body mass index (BMI) within the normal range, in 43.66% and 33.8% of the participants, respectively, overweight and some degree of of obesity. From the waist-hip ratio, it was found that 36.67% of respondents have a very high risk for diseases related to obesity. Furthermore, increased cardiovascular risk (based on waist circumference) was present in 76.05% of participants. Within the range of chronic diseases, more than half (52%) of the participants presented an increase in blood pressure in a single measure, with 15% already having a previously diagnosed vascular disease and another 15% having some kidney disease. When assessing diabetes, only 3% of drivers had capillary blood glucose above 200 mg/dL, but 12% had already identified symptoms suggestive of the disease. Furthermore, 45% reported some discomfort due to low back pain, 55% needed the use of glasses or prescription lenses and 70% said they did not use condoms in any sexual relationship, with 15% having already had an STI. Based on the ASSIST score, a pattern of alcohol abuse was observed in four (5.63%) of the participants, and use suggestive of tobacco dependence in one (1.41%) participant. The report of use of other drugs was sporadic or a single previous use, so there was no significant score in the ASSIST score. Finally, 20% reported having an unsatisfactory sleep pattern, due to long working hours and/or inadequate places to stay. The general health status of the participants revealed a tendency towards the development of chronic non-communicable diseases. Conclusions: From the data obtained, it was possible to conclude that the population of this research is subjected to a strenuous routine of few hours of sleep per night, long working hours with few breaks during the day and great variation in location. Due to a sedentary lifestyle and the need for quick meals outside the home, a large part of the driver sample is overweight or obese, with high blood pressure and associated chronic diseases. In this scenario, it appears that the health risk factors presented by this population are intrinsically linked to their lifestyle. This corroborates not only the worsening of multiple diseases that some of these workers already have, such as systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease, but also the development of other progressively debilitating chronic diseases.