[Prevalence of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome among long-haul professional drivers].
Sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) has been associated with traffic accidents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SAHS and analyze risk factors. We studied 163 professional drivers (86.7%) of the 188 employed by 25 participating companies. The subjects completed a questionnaire on SAHS symptoms and risk factors and underwent physical examination and conventional nighttime polysomnographic testing.


RESULTS
The prevalence of an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ( 5 was 25.2% (95% CI 18.7-32.5) among the drivers. The prevalence of SAHS was 8.6% (95% CI 3.4-12.1). The prevalence increased with age (p = 0.012). Sleepiness while driving or habitual snoring had a sensitivity of 67.5%, specificity of 62.6% and a positive predictive value of 38.6% for detecting SAHS. Logistic regression modelling showed that the risk factors were a body mass index over 29 kg/m2 (OR: 3.56, 95% CI 1.53-8.4) and sleepiness while driving (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.303-10.3).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that detecting SAHS among drivers may be useful for preventing traffic accidents; a questionnaire on SAHS symptoms and objective measures such as polysomnography allow cases to be detected and treated.
Díaz
J
J
Sección de Neumología, Hospital La Magdalena, Castellón. jrdiaz@comcas.es
Guallar
J
J
Arnedo
A
A
Oliva
S
S
Gala
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors