Hospitalization for lifestyle related diseases in long haul drivers compared with other truck drivers and the working population at large

Dahl, Søren; Kærlev, Linda; Jensen, Anker; Tüchsen, Finn; Hannerz, Harald; Nielsen, Per Sabro; Olsen, Jørn · 2009 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3233/wor-2009-0882

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Summary

This study investigates the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases among long-haul truck drivers in Denmark, comparing them to other truck drivers and the general working population. The research was motivated by the unique occupational conditions of long-haul drivers, who often work away from home for extended periods, face irregular sleep patterns, and have limited access to healthy food and physical activity. While previous studies highlighted health risks for truck drivers generally, few distinguished between long-haul and other drivers, leaving a gap in understanding how specific working conditions impact health outcomes. The researchers conducted a ten-year follow-up study (1994–2003) using data from Danish national registers. They identified a cohort of 2,175 male long-haul drivers by linking employer lists from the Association of Danish International Hauliers with the Danish Labour Market Supplementary Pension Fund registry. This group was compared against a control group of 15,060 other truck drivers and the broader Danish working population. Hospitalization data were obtained from the Occupational Hospitalization Register, allowing the calculation of Standardized Hospitalization Ratios (SHR) for various lifestyle-related diagnoses, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and alcohol-related disorders. The results indicated that both long-haul and other truck drivers faced a significantly elevated risk of hospitalization for obesity (SHR: 254 and 216, respectively) and diabetes mellitus (SHR: 140 and 137, respectively) compared to the general working population. Other drivers also showed statistically significant increased risks for bronchitis, emphysema, and ischemic heart diseases. When comparing the two driver groups directly, no major differences were found in most lifestyle-related diseases. However, long-haul drivers had a significantly lower risk of alcohol-related diseases (SHR: 20) compared to other drivers (SHR: 67). Additionally, long-haul drivers exhibited a non-significant trend toward higher risk for lung cancer (SHR: 173) compared to other drivers (SHR: 118). The study concludes that truck driving is strongly associated with diseases linked to excess caloric intake and physical inactivity, particularly obesity and diabetes. The authors suggest that these risks are preventable and highlight the need for targeted preventive measures in occupational medicine and public health. The lower risk of alcohol-related diseases among long-haul drivers contrasts with international findings, potentially reflecting stricter Danish regulations or different cultural norms. The findings underscore the importance of addressing the interplay between working conditions and personal lifestyle in this occupational group to mitigate health risks.

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• truck driver fatigue