Susceptibility to car accidents due to sudden illness with truck drivers in northern Brazil

Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity among truck drivers is closely related to the quality of life of this population and poses a significant vulnerability to the occurrence of car accidents. Objective: to identify the prevalence of these clinical conditions in drivers, as well as the correlation of their existence with emergency situations involving this population and the mechanisms of public health care. Methods: The QVS-80 questionnaire was applied to a sample population of 100 truck drivers in the municipality of Paraíso do Tocantins, located on the banks of the BR-153, to verify information related to quality of life and the presence or absence of Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, and calculation of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine obesity according to the Brazilian Obesity Guidelines - ABESO (2016). In addition, blood pressure measurement and classification of individuals as hypertensive according to the VI Brazilian Guidelines for Arterial Hypertension of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (2020), and as diabetics through random capillary blood glucose measurement in accordance with the guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Diabetes (2020) were performed. Results: The occurrence of car accidents involving trucks is directly related to the quality of life of their drivers, which was shown to be very poor due to the preexistence of chronic diseases such as obesity (41%), overweight (36%), diabetes (6%), and hypertension (60%). Conclusion: The work environment of truck drivers is ideal for sudden-onset events during driving and consequently the occurrence of accidents.