The Impact of Alcohol and Herbal Consumption on the Cardiovascular Health Status of Commercial Automobile Drivers in Ibadan
Abstract:
Cardiovascular
diseases are a group of non-communicable diseases with a rising burden in
Nigeria. Commercial automobile driving is an occupation with associated risks
that may worsen the burden among the population concerned. A cross-sectional
survey of 1713 automobile drivers across Ibadan showed a predominantly male
population with more than half in the 36–49 years age bracket, and 74.6% with
at least secondary level of education. 44.7% of them have been working for 5-10
years, mostly working for 9-16 hours a day (96.3%) and 6-7 days in a week
(96.2%). The long hours of work, prevalence of alcohol consumption (44.4%), and
prevalence of herbal consumption (87.7%) may have contributed to the difference
in the proportion of the population with previously diagnosed hypertension
(2.3%) and the proportion observed to be hypertensive during the study (13.3%).
A significant association between alcohol consumption and the prevalence of
hypertension, pedal oedema and other diagnosed chronic illnesses were also observed.
In contrast, no significant association was noted between herbal consumption
and the parameters of the cardiovascular health status observed. It is
concluded that although the prevalence of hypertension in this population was
lower than previously reported in mixed community samples, the significant
association between alcohol use and elevated blood pressure underscores the
vulnerability of this occupational group.
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