Shift work and arteriosclerosis risk in professional bus drivers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Cardiovascular Disease Research
• Arteriosclerosis Studies

Background:

• Professional bus drivers face elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• The specific causes, particularly the impact of shift work, remain unclear.
• Early manifestations of CVD linked to shift work require elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between shift work and arteriosclerosis risk.
• To examine early signs of cardiovascular disease in professional bus drivers.
• To understand the impact of occupational schedules on driver health.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire assessed demographics, lifestyle, and occupational history in 184 Taiwanese bus drivers.
• Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured using a volume-plethysmographic apparatus.
• Key health indicators including BMI, waist circumference, biochemical variables, and blood pressure were recorded.

Main Results:

• Long-term shift drivers exhibited significantly higher baPWV (1594 cm/s) compared to regular (1497 cm/s) and short-term shift drivers (1432 cm/s).
• Age and diastolic blood pressure were positively associated with baPWV in professional drivers.
• Each additional year of shift driving correlated with a 3.6 cm/s increase in baPWV, independent of other factors.

Conclusions:

• Long-term shift work emerges as a significant risk factor for arteriosclerosis in professional bus drivers.
• Findings suggest a need for further investigation into the cardiovascular implications of shift work in this population.
• Larger-scale studies are recommended to validate and expand upon these results.