title: Association of metabolic syndrome and albuminuria with cardiovascular risk in occupational drivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and albuminuria increase cardiovascular risk. However, in occupational drivers, the clinical significance of albuminuria and its association with MetS remain unclear. We investigated the prevalence of MetS, albuminuria and cardiovascular risk, and its associated risk factors in occupational drivers;
  
  
  METHODS
  441 occupational drivers and 432 age- and sex-stratified matched counterpart controls were enrolled. MetS was defined using Adult Treatment Panel III for Asians. Albuminuria was defined as urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g. Cardiovascular disease risk was evaluated by Framingham Risk Score (FRS);
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher prevalence of MetS (43.1% vs. 25.5%, p < 0.001), albuminuria (12.0% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.001) and high FRS risk ≥ 10% of 10-year risk (46.9% vs. 35.2%, p < 0.001) was found in occupational drivers compared with their counterpart controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that old age, a history of diabetes, gout and betel nut chewing, less exercise and albuminuria (odds ratio [OR], 2.75; p = 0.01) were risk factors for MetS, while a history of renal disease, diabetes and hypertension, and MetS (OR, 2.28; p = 0.01) were risk factors for albuminuria in occupational drivers;
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that MetS and albuminuria were public health problems in occupational drivers. An education program for promoting healthy lifestyle and a regular occupational health visit for early detection and interventions should be established.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. jerchia@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Szu-Chia
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jer-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Meng-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jer-Chia
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Shang-Jyh
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hung-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors