Locomotor diseases among male long-haul truck drivers and other professional drivers.
OBJECTIVE
High risks for locomotor diseases have been reported for bus and truck drivers in general; however, little is known about the specific risks of long-haul truck drivers.


METHODS
Standardised hospitalisation ratios (SHR) for different locomotor diseases of bus drivers, long-haul truck drivers and other truck drivers were compared with each other and with the general Danish working population.


RESULTS
Intervertebral disc disorders were more common among professional drivers (SHR: 119, 95% CI: 114-125) and of similar magnitude for cervical and non-cervical disorders. Both long-haul truck drivers and bus drivers had higher SHR for intervertebral disc disorders (SHR: 133, 95% CI: 114-155/SHR: 141, 95% CI: 129-154, respectively) than other truck drivers (SHR: 109, 95% CI: 102-116). The SHR for carpal tunnel syndrome was high among long-haul drivers (SHR: 163, 95% CI: 101-249) and for other truck drivers (SHR: 130, 95% CI: 108-156) compared to bus drivers (SHR: 110, 95% CI: 79-149). All drivers had high SHR for lesions of the ulnar nerve (SHR: 159, 95% CI: 119-207), especially bus drivers (SHR: 197, 95% CI: 116-311). Long-haul truck drivers had high SHRs for synovitis and bursitis (SHR: 150, 95% CI: 105-207), in contrast to other truck drivers and bus drivers (SHR: 103, 95% CI: 89-120/SHR: 87, 95% CI: 66-112, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
All groups of professional drivers experience high risk of various disorders of the locomotor system but type of vehicle and specific working conditions are associated with different health effects on the locomotor system.
Jensen
Anker
A
Danish Defence, Occupational Health Center South, Bülows Kaserne, Treldevej 110, 7000 Fredericia, Denmark. ankerjensen@mil.dk
Kaerlev
Linda
L
Tüchsen
Finn
F
Hannerz
Harald
H
Dahl
Søren
S
Nielsen
Per Sabro
PS
Olsen
Jørn
J
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations; D014186:Transportation