Physiological and Metabolic Status of Bus Drivers

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess their cardiovascular responses, energy expenditure, workload, musculoskeletal pain and discomfort along with blood and urine parameters. One hundred forty one bus drivers of Kolkata participated in the study. Their anthropometric measurements were recorded. Their physical examination was conducted and clinical history was recorded. Subjective assessment of workload, pain and discomfort was also done. Metabolic status of drivers was determined by biochemical analysis of blood and spot urine samples. Heart rate was recorded every minute by Polar Heart Rate Monitor. Their average working heart rate (AWHR), peak working heart rate (PWHR) and energy expenditure (EE) were determined. Mean value of BMI (21.9 ± 3.13 kg/m2) indicated the bus drivers as ‘normal’ category; however, there were 26% overweight and 14% underweight subjects. Waist–hip ratio of the subjects indicated that 92% subjects had abdominal obesity. Blood pressure values showed drivers were prehypertensive (52%—systolic, and 50%—diastolic) and hypertensive (18%—systolic and 29%—diastolic). Their health-related complaints indicated chronic stress in the bus drivers. AWHR indicated workload category as moderate. Considering EE of driving a bus, the mean value of 3.86 ± 0.55 kcal/min indicates the workload as light to heavy. Subjective assessment showed workload as extremely heavy (11%), very heavy (39%), heavy (34%) and moderate (16%). Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort was reported by 31% bus drivers. Although the workload of bus driving is light to very heavy (physiological) and moderate to extremely heavy (subjective), the factors like type and duration of duty hours, demands of beneficiaries such as passengers and employers, non-availability of proper food and drinking water during working hours, etc. are responsible for causing stress to a bus driver. The presence of abdominal obesity in the majority of the bus drivers as evidenced by waist–hip ratio indicates defect in energy metabolism in this group. Biochemical parameters indicate that they are prone to increase cardiovascular risk and at the risk of development of atherosclerosis.