Abstract

Factors Associated with Hypertension Among Truck Drivers: A Cross Sectional Study at A Check Post on A National Highway in South India

Author(s):Mathew Anil Chankaramangalam, Veyilmuthu Ramamoorthy, Dhanush Muthuraja, Prem Anand Ethayakumari Saravanan, and Xavier Christu Rajan V

Background: Workers in the transport industry are at greater risk for cardio vascular diseases (CVD) due to their increased diet and sedentary behavior. Aims: The aim of the present study is to estimate the prevalence of hypertension among truck drivers and its associated factors. Methods and materials: This study was conducted at Walayar check post which is located on a National highway of South India in August 2016. A detailed physical examination was conducted by a team of medical doctors. Socio demographic information were also elicited. Results: The prevalence of overweight was 50% and the prevalence of hypertension was 40%. In multivariate data analysis, only history of chronic disease was significantly associated with hypertension. Overweight was not significantly associated with hypertension when controlled for age, duration of driving, smoking, marital status, and history of chronic disease (odds ratio=1.987, P=0.054). On further stratified analysis, it was found that higher age (odds ratio=3.160 P<0.001) and longer duration of driving (odds ratio=1.076 P<0.001) were significantly associated with overweight. Overweight (odds ratio=2.210 P<0.05) and history of chronic disease (odds ratio=10.178 P<0.001) were significantly associated with high blood pressure after removing both age and duration of driving from this model. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis relating age with overweight identified 38 years as the optimum cut off value. Conclusions: The truck drivers must be educated at their younger age preferably early thirties to prevent overweight and thereby to reduce hypertension.

• PDF