title: Assessment of screening tests for sleep apnea syndrome in the workplace.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) is often used for screening of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in the workplace. We conducted pulse oximetry for workers of a large transportation company, who were selected based on their response to a questionnaire that included ESS and breathing pattern during sleep.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulse oximetry was performed for 803 of 3,761 male workers. A 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI) >or=15 was defined to represent sleep disordered breathing (SDB). We evaluated the frequencies of severe snoring and sleep apnea in the past three months reported by the bed partner or a family member. The relationships between 3% ODI >or=15 and various parameters were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 715 workers with valid recordings, 3% ODI was >or=15 in 108. The prevalence of 3% ODI >or=15 was high among workers with a body mass index (BMI) >or=25 kg/m(2), or for whom severe snoring (>or=4 days/wk) or sleep apnea (>or=2 days/mo) was reported, but did not correlate with ESS scores. Multivariate analysis showed that 3% ODI >or=15 correlated significantly with BMI, and reported severe snoring and sleep apnea, but not ESS scores. The prevalence of 3% ODI >or=15 was high among obese workers. ESS scores did not correlate with 3% ODI >or=15, irrespective of obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that severe snoring, sleep apnea and BMI, but not ESS, are useful screening tools for SAS.
authors.affiliation: Tanaka Internal Medicine Clinic, Department of Public Health, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. 7787may@kcc.zaq.ne.jp
authors.forename: Shigemi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012913:Snoring / Q000503:physiopathology; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult