Prevalence of arrhythmias in heavy vehicle drivers

Abstract

<p> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Objective: In our study we aimed to determine the frequency of arrhythmias that we believe may affect driving safety. Methods and Results: Two hundred drivers were randomly selected from the heavy vehicle driver population (82 bus and 118 truck drivers, p = 0.08, q = 0.92, N = 1200, </span><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">α</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">= 0.01, d = 0.045). A questionnaire was completed via face to face interviews with the individuals including questions about their personal socio-demographic characteristics and symptoms for arrhythmias. An electrocardiography (ECG) was taken of the study participants using the Cardioline Delta 3 Plus Digital ECG machine. The cardiologist at the clinic evaluated the questionnaire and ECG for presence of arrhythmias. When indicated, ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter Monitoring) was performed for 24 hours in 133 individuals (71 driver and 62 control). <span>In cases that had Holter examination; ventricular ectopy was identified in </span>25.4% and 22.6%, and supra-ventricular ectopy in 45.1% and 35.5% in the driver and the control groups; respectively. Ventricular tachycardia was detected in 2 patients. Arrhythmia frequencies were 59.1%, 54.8% and 57.1% in drivers, control and both groups respectively. Statistical differences between drivers and control group for rhythm disorders were not detected. Conclusions: Arrhythmias with lethal and devastating potential; need to be diagnosed and treated in professional drivers with extreme caution. The follow up and screening for heart diseases has a crucial role in preventing accidents and occupational diseases in drivers.</span> </p

Prevalence and determinants of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction anomalies in adults aged ≥ 40 years in Jimma Town, Southwest of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…A study conducted by Özdemir et al2012 among heavy vehicle drivers found a prevalence of 59.1% which is far more frequent than the prevalence that is found in the current study 13 . The discrepancy in the results might be due to the study period, and the characteristics of sampled participants enrolled in the study that heavy vehicle drivers spent much of their time driving sitting thus prone to a sedentary lifestyle which could accumulate their risk of obesity.…”

“…The result demonstrated that the prevalence of CA was 34.2%. In the literature, the reported incidence of arrhythmia in the community ranges from 14.9% to 59.1 % [11][12][13] . The explanation for this wide range includes the difference in characteristics of the population, the sample studied (e.g.…”

“…A study from Hong Kong found a 14.9% prevalence 11 whereas a study conducted by Gogolashvili et al found a 16.8% prevalence among the rural population of Krasnoyarsk Territory 12 . A cross-sectional study conducted among heavy vehicle drivers found a prevalence of 59.1 % 13 .…”