Thermal discomfort and hypertension in bus drivers and chargers in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pimenta, Adriano Marçal; Assunção, Ada Ávila
• Is Part Of: Applied ergonomics. Volume 47(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 236
• Page End: 241
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Bus driver -- Hypertension -- Hot temperature; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2014.10.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-6870

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the relationship between perception of temperature inside the bus and hypertension among 1126 collective transportation workers in metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Thermal discomfort was determined based on the perception of temperature inside the bus. Hypertension was determined if participant had a medical diagnosis of this disease. Prevalence ratios (PR) for hypertension and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were adjusted using multivariate Poisson regression analysis. The perceptions of temperature inside the bus were tolerable (26.5%), disturbs a little (28.6%), disturbs a lot (34.8%) and unbearable (10.2%). The prevalence of hypertension was 14.3%. The thermal discomfort categories of disturbs a lot (PR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.02–1.95) and unbearable (PR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.16–2.63) were independently related to hypertension. Thermal discomfort was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension. This finding should be considerate in new policies for public transportation. Highlights: This study was conducted with a sample of Brazilian collective transportation workers. Prevalence of hypertension was higher in workers that reported thermal discomfort. Our findings call for reflection about social protection needed for these workers. Our findings encourage transport policies about bus climatic conditions.