Falling asleep while driving and automobile accidents among patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.
Among 448 patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), 40 patients (8.9%) had been involved in one or more automobile accidents during the preceding 5 years. The main cause of these accidents was falling asleep while driving. Excessive sleepiness during driving was associated with an Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score of > 11 and/or an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of > 15. The automobile accident rate among 182 patients with severe OSAHS (AHI > 30) was significantly higher than the rate among 106 simple snorers (AHI < 5). Although four of the simple snorers were involved in automobile accidents, their ESS scores were all very high (15 or more).
Shiomi
Toshiaki
T
Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Japan. toshiaki@amugw.aichi-med-u.ac.jp
Arita
Aki Taniguchi
AT
Sasanabe
Ryujiro
R
Banno
Katsuhisa
K
Yamakawa
Hiroki
H
Hasegawa
Rika
R
Ozeki
Kaori
K
Okada
Maki
M
Ito
Asao
A
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology