LAUSR

Our study demonstrated attenuated cardiovascular reactivity is predictive of future fatigue in truck drivers, who are a safety critical workforce. Attenuated responses to stress may have negative consequences for health and for driving safety, and cardiovascular stress reactivity could identify drivers who may be at heightened risk for developing fatigue. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 6-month health intervention on truck drivers' cardiovascular reactivity to stress and whether cardiovascular reactivity was predictive of depression, anxiety, or fatigue symptoms at 6-month follow-up. Methods Two hundred thirty-eight truck drivers completed a 6-month cluster randomized controlled trial to increase physical activity and completed a stress protocol (Stroop and mirror-tracing tasks) with measurements of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure taken, alongside fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms assessment. Measures were taken at 0 and 6 months. Results Analyses showed a negative relationship between 0-month diastolic blood pressure reactivity and 6-month persistent fatigue. Trends toward negative relationships between systolic blood pressure reactivity and future anxiety and fatigue symptoms at 6 months were evident. Conclusions Our findings may have serious implications, as fatigue can be a major cause of road traffic collisions in truck drivers.