Author(s) Levent Özdemir^*, Okan Onur Turgut, Ferhan Candan, Seher Arslan

Affiliation(s)
Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Sivas, Turkey.
Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Sivas, Turkey.
Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Sivas, Turkey.

ABSTRACT

Objective: In our study we aimed to determine the frequency of arrhythmias that we believe may affect driving safety. Methods and Results: Two hundred drivers were randomly selected from the heavy vehicle driver population (82 bus and 118 truck drivers, p = 0.08, q = 0.92, N = 1200, α = 0.01, d = 0.045). A questionnaire was completed via face to face interviews with the individuals including questions about their personal socio-demographic characteristics and symptoms for arrhythmias. An electrocardiography (ECG) was taken of the study participants using the Cardioline Delta 3 Plus Digital ECG machine. The cardiologist at the clinic evaluated the questionnaire and ECG for presence of arrhythmias. When indicated, ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter Monitoring) was performed for 24 hours in 133 individuals (71 driver and 62 control). In cases that had Holter examination; ventricular ectopy was identified in 25.4% and 22.6%, and supra-ventricular ectopy in 45.1% and 35.5% in the driver and the control groups; respectively. Ventricular tachycardia was detected in 2 patients. Arrhythmia frequencies were 59.1%, 54.8% and 57.1% in drivers, control and both groups respectively. Statistical differences between drivers and control group for rhythm disorders were not detected. Conclusions: Arrhythmias with lethal and devastating potential; need to be diagnosed and treated in professional drivers with extreme caution. The follow up and screening for heart diseases has a crucial role in preventing accidents and occupational diseases in drivers.

KEYWORDS
Arrhythmia; Supra-Ventricular Ectopy; Ventricular Ectopy; Drivers; Prevalence

Cite this paper
Özdemir, L. , Turgut, O. , Candan, F. and Arslan, S. (2013) Prevalence of arrhythmias in heavy vehicle drivers. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 3, 58-63. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2013.31012.

References
[1]   American Heart Association (2003) Heart and stroke facts. http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1056719919740HSFacts2003text.pdf

[2]   British Heart Foundation (2009) Driving. http://www.bhf.org.uk/living_with_a_heart_condition/recovery/driving.aspx

[3]   Bleakley, J.F. and Akiyama, T. (2003) Driving and arrhythmias: Implications of new data. Cardiac Electrophysiology Review, 7, 77-79. doi:10.1023/A:1023655410200

[4]   Epstein, A.E., Miles, W.M., Benditt, D.G., Camm, A.J., Darling, E.J., Friedman, P.L., et al. (1996) Personal and public safety issues related to arrhythmias that may affect consciousness: Implications for regulation and physician recommendations: A medical/scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Circulation, 94, 1147-1166. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.94.5.1147

[5]   McCue, H. (1995) Cardiac arrhythmias in relation to automobile driving. Scientific Conference on Personal and Public Safety Issues Related to Arrhythmias, Wash- ington, January 12-13 1995.

[6]   Rigou, D.G., Pichel, G. and Fasah, L. (1990) Ventricular arrhythmia in young university students without evidence of heart disease. Medicina (Buenos Aires), 50, 47-51.

[7]   Gogolashvili, N.G., Novgorodtseva, N.I., Polikarpov, L.S. and Karpov, R.S. (2004) Incidence of heart rate disorders in rural population of Krasnoiarsk region. Terapevtiche- ski? Arkhiv, 76, 41-44.

[8]   Komsuo?lu, B., Duman, E., Komsuo?lu, S.S. and G?r?in, B. (1993) Prevalence of ventricular premature complexes in healthy and untreated hypertensive elderly people. Angiology, 44, 447-453. doi:10.1177/000331979304400604

[9]   Engel, U.R. and Burckhardt, D. (1975) Frequency and form of arrhythmia and changes in ECG in juvenile healthy volunteers. Studies with long-term electrocardio- graphy. Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift, 105, 1467-1469.

[10]   Paparella N and Alboni P. (1991) Classification and prevalence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Cardiología, 36, 7-10.

[11]   Rasmussen, V., Jensen, G., Schnohr, P. and Hansen, J.F. (1985) Premature ventricular beats in healthy adult subjects 20 to 79 years of age. European Heart Journal, 6, 335-341.

[12]   Turner, A.S., Watson, O.F., Adey, H.S., Cottle, L.P. and Spence, R. (1981) The prevalence of disturbance of cardiac rhythm in randomly selected New Zealand adults. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 93, 253-255.

[13]   Adey, H., Ballantyne, D.A., Bostock, M.I., Fleischl, P., Kurta, A.V., Langley, R.B., et al. (1978) The prevalence of disturbance of cardiac rhythm in healthy New Zealand adults: A pilot study. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 88, 433-435.

[14]   Hanne-Paparo, N. and Kellermann, J.J. (1981) Long-term Holter ECG monitoring of athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 13, 294-298. doi:10.1249/00005768-198105000-00004

[15]   Onat, A., Avc?, G.?., ?rnek, E. and ?enocak, M. (1993) Türk eri?kinlerde elektrokardiyografik bulgular ile aritmilerin prevalans?: Bir epidemiyoloji ?al??ma. Türk Kardiyoloji Derne?i Ar?ivi, 21, 11-16.