Selected risk factors of diabetes mellitus among road transport drivers.
OBJECTIVE
Road transport drivers are one of the professional groups whose activities have a strong impact on public safety. In view of the nature of their professional activity, the drivers are at a higher risk of obesity and hypertension, and thus, indirectly, of carbohydrate metabolism disorders such as diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Medical documentation was a source of data for the reported study. It derived from medical examinations of truck and bus drivers applying for the new category II driving licence or for prolongation of the one they already had.


RESULTS
Excessive body weight was recorded in 62.6% of the study population; 45.3% had overweight and 17.4% were diagnosed with obesity. Hypertension was noted in the medical records of 36.7% drivers. The prevalence of abnormal BP values was increasing with age. Overweight was found to be a risk factor for hypertension. Hyperglycaemia was found in 47.5% of the drivers and was also increasing with age.


CONCLUSIONS
In road transport drivers, the high prevalence of excessive body weight and elevated arterial blood pressure as the risk factors for diabetes indicates a need to undertake multidimensional actions targeted on this particular profession and involving various health care sectors. Prophylactic and detailed pre-placement examinations should be considered, depending on the rate and intensity of the disorders diagnosed. This should be coupled with an introduction of primary and secondary prophylactic activities and monitoring of relevant treatment. A close collaboration with the patient's GP is necessary.
Marcinkiewicz
Andrzej
A
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland. am@imp.lodz.pl
Szosland
Dorota
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult