Metabolic syndrome among commercial truck drivers: The relationship between condition prevalence and crashes

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is especially prevalent among US truck drivers. However, there has been limited research exploring associations between MetS conditions with roadway crashes among truck drivers. The objective of this paper is to assess relationships between specific combinations of individual MetS components and crashes and near-misses.

Survey, biometric, and anthropometric data were collected from 817 truck drivers across 6 diverse US states. Survey data focused on demographics and roadway safety outcomes, and anthropometric/biometric data corresponded to five MetS conditions (waist circumference blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios of lifetime crashes and near-miss 1-month period prevalence associated with: 1) specific MetS conditions regardless of presence or absence of other MetS conditions, and 2) specific MetS conditions and counts of other accompanying MetS conditions.

Hypertension was the MetS characteristic most strongly associated with lifetime crash and 1-month near-miss outcomes, while high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and large waist circumference were most commonly present among groups of conditions associated with crashes and near-misses. Overall, an increasing number of specific co-occurring MetS conditions were associated with higher reporting of roadway crashes.

Specific combinations and higher prevalence of MetS conditions were associated with increased frequency of reported crashes. Moreover, when the co-occurrence of MetS conditions is aggregated, a dose-response relationship with crashes appears. These results suggest that policy changes and interventions addressing MetS may increase driver health and reduce crash risk.