Prevalence and Determinants of Hypertension among Iranian Taxi Drivers (2018)

Background: The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) among Iranian taxi drivers has not been well defined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HTN and to identify factors influencing its prevalence among Iranian taxi drivers in 2018. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total sample of 321 taxi drivers in Kermanshah province in 2018. The participants were classified into two groups, including the HTN group (SBP ≥ 140 or DBP ≥ 90) and the non-HTN group (SBP < 140 or DBP < 90). A self-administrated questionnaire, including questions about demographic information, medical history, and work-related factors was employed to collect data. Results: According to the observations, 59.8% of the participants (192/321) suffered from HTN. According to the adjusted logistic regression model and the per one unit increase, there was significantly higher odds of HTN for age (odds ratio [OR] =1.04 and 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.02, 1.06) and work history (OR=1.08 and 95% CI=1.03, 1.13); in contrast, there was a lower risk of HTN for sleep duration (OR=0.83 and 95% CI=0.69, 0.99) and Work Days Per Week (WDPW) (OR=0.73 and 95% CI=0.57, 0.94). In the categorical analysis, a significantly higher risk of HTN was observed in the drivers with age ≥ 45, work history ≥ 5, Work Hours Per Day (WHPD) >10, WDPW ≤ 6, married, and poor economic status ≤ a 2-million Toman income per month. Conclusions: This study introduces taxi drivers as a high-risk HTN group in the society. Hence, they should be informed of HTN risk factors and undergo regular checkups.