Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among commercial drivers in Northeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background and purpose: Commercial drivers are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to the nature of their work. However, data on the prevalence of CVD risk factors among commercial drivers in northeastern Nigeria remain limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CVD risk factors among this population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 924 commercial drivers selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data on demographic characteristics were gathered by a standardized questionnaire, while anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical parameters were measured. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The study included 924 male commercial drivers with a mean age of 32.4 ± 9.2 years and an average of 2.7 ± 1.2 years of commercial driving experience. The prevalence of obesity (≥30 kg/m 2 ), abdominal obesity (≥1.00), hypertension (≥130–140/90–100 mmHg), diabetes (>126 mg/dL), and dyslipidemia (total cholesterol TC ≥ 240 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-C <40 mg/dL) was (7.6%, 70/924), (51.6%, 477/924), (35.8%, 331/924), (10.8%, 38/352), and (20%, 37/185), respectively. Conclusions: The findings indicate that while the overall prevalence of major CVD risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia is relatively low, abdominal obesity is notably high among commercial drivers. Targeted interventions are needed to address this risk factor and promote cardiovascular health in this population.