Prevalence of sleepiness in a group of Brazilian lorry drivers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of sleepiness in a group of Brazilian lorry drivers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
This study used a self-administrated questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The questionnaire included questions regarding demographic features, professional data, sleep habits, night-time symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness and history of previous automobile accidents.


RESULTS
Four hundred and thirty-eight male drivers, aged 34.2+/-9.5 years (mean+/-SD), were included in the study. The mean number of hours spent driving each day was 9.2+/-2.6h, compared with 4.5+/-2.3h for the night shift. The median distance covered weekly was 1,200 km (range 70-6,000 km). The most common sleep complaints were insomnia (26.6%), loud snoring (45%) and witnessed apnoea (7.6%). Eighty-six of 392 (22%) drivers reported falling asleep while driving, and 11 (2.8%) subjects indicated falling asleep daily or almost daily. One hundred and seventy-one drivers (39%) had been involved in a traffic accident, and 21 of 128 drivers (16.4%) indicated sleepiness as a possible contributing factor. The ESS was higher than 10 points in 120 (28%) of the interviewees.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleepiness is a prevailing symptom in lorry drivers and is probably related to accidents.
Canani
S F
SF
Sleep Disorders Center, Pulmonary Section, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Room 2050, 90035-903 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. scanani@terra.com.br
John
A B
AB
Raymundi
M G
MG
Schönwald
S
S
Menna Barreto
S S
SS
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012894:Sleep Stages