Comprehensive Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Professional Motor Vehicle Drivers

Vollständiger Abstract

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Introduction: High prevalence of work-related cardiovascular diseases among vehicle drivers is an occupational medicine challenge that necessitates the implementation of effective preventive measures to reduce cardiovascular risks in this occupational group in order to preserve life, health, and career longevity and ensure road safety. Objectives: To conduct a comprehensive assessment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among motor vehicle drivers, to establish the relationship between risks and compensatory disorders, and to test correction methods. Material and Methods: The study was conducted from September to November 2023 involving 474 male drivers (mean age: 52.3 ± 9.7 years; 28.9 ± 11.9 years of driving experience). Hygienic, clinical laboratory, psychophysiological, and statistical methods, as well as a questionnaire-based survey were used to identify and assess risk factors. Cardiovascular and adaptation risks were calculated. Results: The 10-year cardiovascular risk among motor vehicle drivers was high (6.75 ± 0.2 %) due to a wide spread of traditional risk factors, such as cardiometabolic disorders and smoking. We also found correlations between cardiovascular risk and adaptation risk (r = 0.226, p = 0.000), occupational factors (r = 0.15, p = 0.001), anxiety level (r = 0.15, p = 0.001), malondialdehyde in erythrocytes (r = 0.21, p = 0.016), and catalase activity (r = 0.25, p = 0.005). One of the signs of poor adaptation in workers with less than 10 years of experience was an increase in adaptation risk above the acceptable level. An information bulletin on reducing cardiovascular risk was developed for employees. Positive dynamics in functional status parameters were registered following the use of a self-regulation method based on biofeedback. Conclusion: The high cardiovascular risk among drivers and the established relationship between occupational stress factors and compensatory disorders with its level highlight the importance of improving working conditions and raising awareness of the existing risk, its consequences, and ways to reduce it.