General characteristics and risk factors of cardiovascular disease among interstate bus drivers.
Workers in the transportation industry are at greater risk of an incorrect diet and sedentary behavior. The aim of our study was to characterize a population of professional bus drivers with regard to clinical and demographic variables, lipid profile, and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Data from 659 interstate bus drivers collected retrospectively, including anthropometric characteristics, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, meatoscopy, and audiometry. All participants were male, with a mean age of 41.7 ± 6.9 years, weight of 81.4 ± 3.3 kg, and BMI 27.2 ± 3.3 Kg/m²; the mean abdominal and neck circumferences were 94.4 ± 8.6 cm and 38.9 ± 2.2  cm; 38.2% of the sample was considered hypertensive; mean HDL cholesterol was 47.9 ± 9.5 mg/dL, mean triglyceride level was 146.3 ± 87.9 mg/dL, and fasting glucose was above 100 mg/dL in 249 subjects (39.1%). Drivers exhibited reduced audiometric hearing at 4-8 kHz, being all sensorineural hearing loss. The clinical characterization of a young male population of interstate bus drivers revealed a high frequency of cardiovascular risk factors, as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia, as well as contributing functional characteristics, such as a low-intensity activity, sedentary behavior, long duration in a sitting position, and high-calorie diet, which lead to excessive weight gain and associated comorbidities.
Rehabilitation Sciences Master and PhD Program, Nove de Julho University, Avenida Francisco Matarazzo, 612 Agua Branca, 05001-100 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. raquel hirata@hotmail.com
Raquel Pastréllo
RP
Hirata
Luciana Maria Malosa
LM
Sampaio
Fernando Sergio Studart
FS
Leitão Filho
Alberto
A
Braghiroli
Bruno
B
Balbi
Salvatore
S
Romano
Giuseppe
G
Insalaco
Luis Vicente Franco
LV
de Oliveira
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors