Fadiga e seu impacto na morbimortalidade de motoristas profissionais: uma revisão narrativa

Introduction: Road transport is the most widely used mode in Brazil, and the road freight sector ranks among the highest nationally in work-related illnesses, accidents, disability retirements, and deaths. Fatigue is a complex symptom involving cognitive and emotional changes, with a multifactorial etiology ranging from organic to psychological causes, including sleep disorders. Objectives: To examine the association between fatigue and accidents involving professional drivers. Methods: A literature review was conducted using the Cochrane Library, LILACS, PubMed, and SciELO databases, applying health descriptors (DeCS/MeSH) and the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR". Articles published in Portuguese or English between 2013 and 2023 were included. Results: Of the 112 articles retrieved, 14 were selected. Total driving time was the most frequently reported risk factor for traffic accidents (42%), followed by shorter professional experience (28%). Additionally, male sex, psychological stress, organic conditions, and sleep disorders were identified as risk factors in 21% of the studies. Investment in training, particularly in safe driving practices, was the main factor associated with reduced risk of work-related accidents among professional drivers, being addressed in 57% of the selected studies. Conclusion: The literature consistently identifies fatigue as a key determinant of illness, adverse health outcomes, disability, and death among professional drivers.