Abstract:
Introduction: Bus drivers are more vulnerable to health
complications due to the nature of their occupation. There is
less information available on the role of occupational stress
and metabolic syndrome as the risk factors for Cardiovascular
Diseases (CVD) among them. Metabolic syndrome is described
by clustering of hypertension, hyperglycaemia, obesity, and
dyslipidemia.
Aim: To investigate the relationship between occupational
stress and metabolic syndrome and assess its role among bus
drivers as a predictive risk factor for CVD.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was
conducted from June 2014 to March 2015, at the Department
of Biochemistry, BLDE (DU) Shri BM Patil medical college,
Vijayapura, Karnataka, with randomly selected bus drivers
(n=90) and age, sex-matched healthy participants (n=110)
serving as controls. The National Cholesterol Education Program
Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) was used to describe
metabolic syndrome. Data on sociodemographic features,
anthropometric indexes, blood pressure, and biochemical
parameters, including serum cortisol, were obtained. The
questionnaire related to working patterns and Perceived Stress
Scale (PSS) was used to assess the psychosocial hazards, and
the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) model was used to predict
the subsequent 10-year possible risk of developing CVD in bus
drivers. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) software version 16.0.
Results: The mean age of bus drivers was 44.60±6.74 years.
According to the PSS, with 28 as the cut-off value, 36 (40%)
bus drivers were under stress. As per FRS, 51 (56.7%) of bus
drivers were at low CVD risk, 27 (30%) were at intermediate risk,
and 12(13.3%) were at higher CVD risk. Statistically significant
values for parameters such as Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS),
glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum triglyceride, serum
cortisol, and PSS were seen among bus drivers with metabolic
syndrome (p<0.001). A positive correlation between Waist
Circumference (WC) and Triglycerides (TG) (r=0.215, p<0.001),
WC and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.329, p<0.001), WC and
HbA1c (r=0.409, p<0.001) was observed.
Conclusion: The stress at work in the bus driver’s occupation is a
crucial factor associated with metabolic syndrome, a significant
risk factor for CVD. The awareness program in health camps and
regular physical activity will prompt lifestyle modification that
reduces diseases and moderate future cardiovascular events
