Multiple Conditions Increase Preventable Crash Risks Among Truck Drivers in a Cohort Study

Objective: This study aims to quantify the crash risk for truck drivers with multiple comorbid medical conditions, after adjusting for confounders. Methods: This retrospective cohort of 38,184 drivers evaluated concomitant medical conditions and subsequent crash data between January 1, 2005, and October 31, 2012. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for any cause and preventable crashes of varying severity. Results: Drivers with three or more medical conditions had a significantly increased risk of preventable Department of Transportation (DOT) reportable crashes (HR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.65 to 3.88) and preventable crashes with injuries (HR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.09 to 5.31) after adjustment for covariates. Similarly, adjusted HRs were 2.55 (95% CI = 1.37 to 4.73) for any cause DOT-reportable crashes and 3.21 (95% CI = 1.18 to 8.75) for any cause crashes with injuries. Conclusions: Having three concomitant medical conditions may be a statistically significant risk factor for preventable and any cause DOT-reportable crashes and crashes with injuries.

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