Work, sleep, and cholesterol levels of U.S. long-haul truck drivers

Lemke, Michael K.; Apostolopoulos, Yorghos; Hege, Adam; Wideman, Laurie; Sönmez, Sevil · 2016 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2016-0127

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study investigates the cardiovascular health risks associated with the occupational conditions of U.S. long-haul truck drivers, specifically focusing on the relationship between work organization, sleep patterns, and cholesterol levels. Motivated by the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypercholesterolemia in this population, the research aimed to generate a cholesterol profile for these drivers and determine how work hours, compensation structures, and sleep quality/duration influence lipid outcomes. The authors hypothesized that poor sleep and demanding work schedules would significantly predict adverse cholesterol profiles, thereby increasing atherosclerotic risk. The researchers employed a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional design, collecting survey and biometric data from 262 long-haul truck drivers at a large truckstop in North Carolina. While 262 drivers completed questionnaires, only 115 provided blood samples for analysis. Data collection included the Trucker Sleep Disorders Survey to assess demographic, work organization, and sleep variables, alongside blood draws analyzed via ELISA systems for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and non-HDL levels. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, linear regression for continuous cholesterol measures, and ordinal logistic regression for categorized risk levels (non-HDL and cholesterol ratio), controlling for factors such as age, race, and medication use. The results revealed a high-risk cholesterol profile among the drivers. Approximately 66.4% had low HDL levels (< 40 mg/dL), and nearly 42% exhibited a total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio indicating at least double the average risk for heart disease. Linear regression analyses identified significant predictors for specific lipid markers: daily work hours and both workday and non-workday sleep quality were associated with LDL levels, while non-workday sleep quality predicted HDL levels. Workday sleep duration and quality were linked to total cholesterol. Furthermore, ordinal logistic regression showed that optimal workday sleep duration was associated with a 67% reduction in odds of elevated non-HDL cholesterol. Driving experience and sleep quality were also significant predictors of the cholesterol ratio. The study concludes that long-haul truck drivers face substantial atherosclerotic risks driven by their occupational environment. Specifically, poor sleep quality and excessive work hours are significant contributors to adverse cholesterol outcomes. The findings underscore the need for targeted worksite health promotion programs that address sleep hygiene and work organization to mitigate cardiovascular risks in this population. By identifying sleep and work factors as modifiable predictors, the research provides a basis for interventions aimed at improving the health and longevity of commercial drivers.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• truck driver fatigue