Obesity and High Blood Pressure among Professional Long-Distance Drivers in Yaoundé, Cameroon: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Drivers play a very important role in the transportation of people, goods and services in Cameroon. The data on obesity and hypertension amongst these professionals is insufficient. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of obesity and high blood pressure (HBP) among professional bus drivers in Yaoundé. Methods: This was an analytic cross-sectional study among long-distance bus drivers stationed in Yaoundé between march and April 2018. The data collected focused on driving history, eating habits, driver’s lifestyle, and anthropometric measurements. The analysis was completed using SPSS 21 software; STATA 13; SPAD 5.5 and Excel. Results: Of the 309 drivers, 27.18% and 17.80% were obese and hypertensive, respectively. The risk of developing HBP and obesity was higher among drivers with ≥20 years of driving experience. The risk of obesity was 3.99 (95% CI = 1.65 - 9.64); 14.57 (95% CI = 3.65 - 58.16) and 15.23 (95% CI = 3.30 - 70.40) times higher in drivers with 10 - 14, 15 - 19 and 20 years of experience respectively. The risk of HBP was 3.64 (95% CI = 1.22 - 10.85); 5.08 (95% CI = 1.18 - 21.92) and 9.42 (95% CI = 1.87 - 47.44) times higher in drivers with 10 - 14; 15 - 19 years and 20 years of service, respectively. The more involved the drivers were in sporting activities, the less likely they are to be obese (RR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.24 - 0.88); the risk of HBP was 1.96 (95% CI = 1.05 - 3.67) times higher among drivers who were unable to make trips of at least 10 minutes. And the risk of HBP was less when drivers did not snack while traveling (RR = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.21 - 0.90) than when they did. When a driver ate at least 3 meals a day, the risk of being obese was 5.75 (95% CI = 3.15 - 10.48) times higher. The risk of HBP was 4.04 (95% CI = 2.20 - 7.41) times higher in obese drivers than in those with a normal body mass index. Conclusion: Obesity and HBP are common conditions amongst the population of bus drivers. They are particularly exposed due to their socio-professional characteristics, their eating habits, and their lifestyle. These observations call for nutritional and sports education campaigns among bus drivers.