Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To examine whether or not there is an association between blood pressure and lifestyle habits in male express bus drivers.
METHODS
The study subjects were 249 male express bus drivers. The data was obtained from annual health surveillance. A structured questionnaire was used to assess smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, daily hours of sleep, work duration and weekly working hours. The subjects' BMI (Body Mass Index) was classified using the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria for obesity in Asians, and their blood pressure was classified according to the JNC (Joint National Committee) 7 classification. Multiple cases of logistic regression modeling were used to determine associations between hypertension and the subjects' common characteristics, lifestyle habits and obesity were used as the independent variables.
RESULTS
We found that lack of sleep was associated with hypertension (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.01~3.39) and obesity was also associated with hypertension (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.59~4.98).
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that daily hours of sleep and obesity were associated with hypertension in male express bus drivers. Due to the characteristics of this job, such as long hours and lack of exercise, it can result in obesity and lack of sleep, which can in turn influence occurrences of hypertension. Therefore, consideration of lack of sleep and obesity in their workers will be helpful for the management in the prevention of hypertension.

• Keywords: Body Mass Index;Sleep;Hypertension;Bus driver