Occupational Stress and Metabolic Syndrome among Bus Drivers: Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases

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.