Hypertension in Indian Truck Drivers: The Need for Comprehensive Service Provision to This Mobile Population (2017-18)

Uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes in truckers can negatively affect their work performance. This paper analyses the first-year data of an eye care program for truckers to assess their need for hypertension and diabetes screening.

In this cross-sectional study, data were collected via eye camps for truckers held between July 2017 and June 2018. Truckers who consented to have their blood pressure and glucose examined were included. Variables analysed included basic age profiles of the drivers attending the camps, the proportion of the truckers suffering from hypertension, the proportion with previously undetected hypertension, proportion of hypertensive drivers taking treatment and the proportion of the truckers with suspected diabetes. Z-test and Chi-square test were used for data analysis.

During the study period, 4,059 truckers attended camps, of whom 86.13% underwent hypertension screening. Out of those screened, 865 (24.7%, 95% CI: 23.31-26.17%) were diagnosed with hypertension. The mean age of the hypertensive drivers was higher than that of those with normal blood pressure (p < 0.001) and susceptibility to hypertension was found to increase with age. Among 816 drivers with hypertension who responded to questions about hypertension history, only 49.1% reported to have undergone blood pressure examinations earlier, while only 25.4% had received the treatment prescribed. The prevalence of high blood glucose was found to be 4% in the 3,433 drivers tested, which had an increasing trend with aging.

There is an urgent need for formulating policies on hypertension screening and launching awareness campaigns in this mobile population.