ORIGINAL PAPER
Poor weight control, alcoholic beverage
consumption and sudden sleep onset
at the wheel among Italian truck drivers:
A preliminary pilot study
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1
Azienda Sanitaria Locale CN1, Cuneo, Italy
(Medical Emergency Service)
2
Medical Services, Servizi Medici Se.M. s.r.l., Cuneo, Italy
(Occupational Safety and Health)
3
University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
(Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine)
4
University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
(Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology)
5
Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
6
University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
(Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine)
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2016;29(3):405-16
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity, alcoholic beverage consumption, unhealthy alcohol
use and sudden sleep onset at the wheel among Italian truck drivers. In addition to prevalence rates, this study also aimed at
investigating potential predictors for sudden-onset sleepiness and obesity. Material and Methods: A sample of truck drivers was
extracted from the database of the High Risk Professional Driver Study. Data concerning demographics, anthropometry, medical
information and working conditions were collected using anonymous questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were performed to
assess the association of the reported body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption and sudden sleep onset with working conditions
and general lifestyle factors. Results: Three hundred and thirty-five questionnaires were collected. According to their BMI, 45%
of the participants were overweight and 21.4% of them were obese. Twenty-four point two percent declared they drank alcoholic
beverages during working hours or work breaks and 21.3% of the drivers had an Alcohol Use Disorders Identyfication Test Consumption
(AUDIT C) score ≥ 5 (the threshold value for unhealthy alcohol use). Forty-one point six percent of the interviewees
experienced one episode of sudden sleep onset at the wheel per month (5.5% per week and 0.9% daily). Predictive factors for obesity
were: length of service (odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, confidence interval (95% CI): 1.04–1.15, p < 0.001) and the AUDIT C total score
(OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08–1.66, p = 0.008). Predictive factors for sudden-onset sleepiness at the wheel were: age > 55 years old
(OR = 5.22, 95% CI: 1.29–21.1, p = 0.020), driving more than 50 000 km per year (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.37–6.11, p = 0.006) and
the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) score > 11 (adjusted OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.22–7.21, p = 0.016). Conclusions: This study
strongly emphasizes the need for intervention in order to reduce and prevent important risk factors for the sake of road safety and
truck drivers’ health.