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Obesity indices are predictive of elevated C‐reactive protein in long‐haul truck drivers
Author(s) -
Wideman Laurie,
Oberlin Douglas J.,
Sönmez Sevil,
Labban Jeffrey,
Lemke Michael Kenneth,
Apostolopoulos Yorghos
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22584
Subject(s) - medicine , waist , abdominal obesity , anthropometry , national health and nutrition examination survey , obesity , c reactive protein , population , body mass index , circumference , environmental health , inflammation , geometry , mathematics
Background Obesity rates in long‐haul truck drivers have been shown to be significantly higher than the general population. We hypothesized that commercial drivers with the highest levels of general obesity and abdominal adiposity would have higher concentrations of high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. Methods Survey and anthropometric data were collected from 262 commercial drivers. Weight, circumference measures, and blood analysis for CRP (N = 115) were conducted and compared to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. CRP values were non‐normally distributed and logarithmically transformed for statistical analyses. Results BMI, waist circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, and CRP were significantly higher than in the general population. Anthropometric indices that included height (BMI, waist‐to‐height ratio, and sagittal diameter‐to‐height ratio), were most predictive of CRP values. Conclusions Abdominal obesity is prevalent in commercial vehicle drivers and is an important indicator of the presence of inflammation in this population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:665–675, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.