RESUMEN
Background: Recent industrialisation and urbanisation and introduction of vehicles running on fossil fuels have led to an increase in pollution especially in major cities. This has given rise to various diseases like acute and chronic diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cardiovascular Diseases, Cerebrovascular Diseases and so on leading to significant mortality and morbidity. Auto rickshaw drivers are subjected to the environmental pollutants and their ill effects. Objectives: Current study was done with the objective of finding the prevalence of COPD among them. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in 2019 in Kalyanpuri circle of East Delhi in 409 auto rickshaw drivers in a total of ten Three-Seater Rickshaw (TSR) stands which were chosen by simple random sampling. Consecutive auto rickshaw drivers were chosen from each stand. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and spirometry was conducted using a handheld portable spirometer with adjusted values as per S K Chhabra’s formula for Indian Males. Data analysis was done on SPSS by applying chisquare tests. Results: Mean age of study subjects was 39±7.54 years (Age group 22 to 59 years). The prevalence of COPD was found to be 13.7% based on spirometry as per GOLD criteria. Statistically significant association was found with the age of the study subjects and hour years of driving. No significant association found with the smoking status. Conclusion: The prevalence of COPD was found to be higher among the study subjects. Since they belong to unorganized sector, relevant policies are required for promoting the health status among them.
RESUMEN
Background: Auto rickshaws form 10-20% of daily motorized urban transport and ensure connectivity and easy access throughout congested Indian cities. Harmful lifestyles practiced by auto rickshaw drivers like irregularity of meals, bad posture while driving, sedentary lifestyle predisposes them to many gastrointestinal, respiratory, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular diseases. This study was taken to assess the risk factors of non-communicable diseases among of auto rickshaw drivers. Objectives of the study were to estimate the proportion of various non-communicable diseases among study population and to assess various risk factors for non- communicable diseases among study population.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 100 auto rickshaw drivers, aged above 20 years commuting at bus terminus and railway station in Hyderabad, Telangana using a predesigned questionnaire from May to July 2018.Results: The mean age of the study population was found to be 41.58±10.9 years. Around 14% of study subjects had history of diabetes mellitus and 15% hypertension. About 69% were overweight or obese, 41% had refractive errors and majority had musculoskeletal problems. The mean duration of physical activity was found to be 35±7 minutes/day.Conclusions: The prevalence of cardio vascular disease risk factors i.e. tobacco smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity was found to be quite high among auto rickshaw drivers. Early precautionary measures, regular medical check-up and prompt interventions are necessary for managing risk factors
RESUMEN
Background: Auto rickshaw drivers spend their maximum time in polluted, dangerous, and very noisy environment. They are exposed to harmful pollutant gas such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide which can contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, breathlessness, and chest pain. Objectives: The present study was aimed to estimate respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) among auto rickshaw drivers. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among auto rickshaw drivers working in Mangaluru. Information regarding sociodemographic profile, dietary habits, addictions, and working hours were collected, and respiratory examination along with PEFR estimation was done. Results: The maximum study participants were in the age group of 41–50 years, and 56.4% participants were working for >10 h per day. The main respiratory symptoms were breathlessness (28.7%) followed by cough (19.7%). Among 188 study participants, 61 (32.4%) had low PEFR. Conclusion: The respiratory symptoms are quite high among auto rickshaw drivers, and there is a need to increase awareness among them for the prevention of occupational disease.