Background
Metabolic syndrome involves a set of metabolic risk factors that directly increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Physical inactivity due to driving can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. It is also known that sleep disorders (sleep apnea) can result in MetS. Driving in Iran is considered a very popular but risky occupation, so paying attention to this profession is of special importance. Therefore, the researchers aimed to investigate the association between sleep disorders and metabolic syndrome in drivers in Shahroud city in 2018.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out on 948 drivers from Shahroud city in 2018. After obtaining consent from participants, 3 questionnaires including demographic, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and STOP-BANG were completed. Clinical and anthropometric measurements were assessed, including blood pressure, waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, height, and body mass index. In addition, blood was drawn to measure High Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein, Triglyceride, cholesterol, and Fasting Blood Sugar levels. The relationship between metabolic syndrome and sleep disorders was then studied. In this study, statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 23 at a significance level of 0.05.
Results
Mean age of drivers was 44.15 ± 11.66 (years). The mean waist circumference and mean hip circumference in subjects with a Class 1 Driver’s License (a certificate for trucks and buses) were higher than those with a Class 2 Driver’s License (a certificate for motorcars, minibuses, vans, etc. (seating< 20)) (
P
= 0.01 and
P
= 0.003, respectively). Moreover, the BMI in subjects with a Class 1 Driver’s License was higher compared to subjects with a Class 2 Driver’s License. The correlation between metabolic syndrome with sleep apnea based on STOP-BANG questionnaire was significant (
p
< 0.001) irrespective of definition (ATP and IDF).
Conclusions
According to the results of this study, there was a bi-directional association between sleep disorders and Mets, so this group should pass periodic medical examinations and training courses. Moreover, their families should be informed of prevention and treatment of this syndrome.
This is a PDF file of an article accepted, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. 2 Background: The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the risk of respiratory and sleep disorders in professional drivers in Shahroud, Iran. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in 2020 on eligible professional drivers in Shahroud, Iran. The participants were briefed on the study objectives and then signed consent forms. The snoring, tiredness during daytime, observed apnea, high blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck circumference, gender (STOP-BANG) questionnaire was first used to assess obstructive sleep apnea. Then, based on the questionnaire scores, the participants were divided into two groups: those with and those without obstructive sleep apnea. The relationship between this disorder and the metabolic syndrome was then studied. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests. Results: Based on the STOP-BANG questionnaire, 214 drivers with a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea and 214 drivers with low risk were recruited for the study. According to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, 204 drivers (47.7%) had metabolic syndrome. There was a significant relationship between driver license class and the risk of OSA (P<0.05). Metabolic syndrome variables including fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and hypertension (based on both systolic and diastolic blood pressures), but not high-density lipoprotein, were able to predict sleep apnea in the professional drivers (P<0.05). Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, especially in drivers of high risk who may spend long hours transporting good and operating passenger vehicles, screening and treating these disorders are crucial in this part of the population. The researchers strongly recommend holding regular training sessions about these disorders for professional drivers.
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