Citation

Elgarov AA, Aramisova R. J. Traffic Med. 2000; 28(1-2): 45-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Purpose: As part of National prevention programs, one-time and prospective studies have been conducted on commercial drivers working in urban and rural areas. Since 1981 the studies aim at the spread of arterial hypertension (AH) and some of the coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors (RF). Methods: Clinical electrophysiological studies (blood pressure-BP-monitoring) and ECG elaborated psychological and psychophysiological testing, EEG with Berg-Fourier analyser in 168 drivers (with 46 healthy and 122 hypertensioned) to bring about: 1) in 1/4 healthy drivers hypertonic reactions and ischemic features ("mute" ischemia) were recorded; 2) in hypertensioned drivers professionally relevant abilities (PRA) deteriorated, especially with hypertonic strokes as compared with PRA of healthy subjects; 3) a higher hypochondria level, depression, emotional instability in hypertensioned drivers. Results: The first stage (1982-1985) incorporated 4323 workers of urban commercial vehicle enterprises (CVE) where 14. 7% subjects were found with AH. CHD RF were found in the majority of drivers - alcohol (87.6%) and smoking abuse (74%), psychoemotional overstrain (56%), and overweight (19%). The second stage (1987-1989) involved 1213 workers of rural CVE where AH was found in 14.9% of the subjects. The spread of alcohol (87.5%), smoking (67.2%), psychoemotional overstrain (59. 5%), overweight (17. 5%) in the rural areas did not differ. The third stage (1994-1996) at urban CVE in 1191 subjects, AH was 17. 5%, more often in taxi drivers (23.2%), less often in truck-drivers (15.3%). Alcohol was abused by 76%, 72% were heavy smokers and 53% were psychoemotionally overstrained. At all stages the percentage of those aware of the disease (35%), of those receiving treatment (6%), of those having been treated with the hypotensive effect (1%), was extremely small. Conclusion: Varieties of hypotensives being clinically tested prompted approaches in hypertensioned drivers. Calcium antagonists (Isradipin), Atenolol (Tenormin), and also laser therapy having a hypotensive effect, tend to improve PRA and good living indices. On the contrary, Klofelin, Estulik and ACE inhibitors (Ramipril, Gopten) despite a decreasing BP trend that they provide, PRA begin to deteriorate and so do good living indices. Presence of AH in drivers and use of some hypotensives may become a factor to insecure driving safety.