title: Traffic crash accidents in Tehran, Iran: Its relation with circadian rhythm of sleepiness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Road traffic accidents are one of main problems in Iran. Multiple factors cause traffic accidents and the most important one is sleepiness. This factor, however, is given less attention in our country. Road traffic accidents relevant to sleepiness are studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, all road traffic accidents relevant to sleepiness, which were reported by police, were studied in Tehran province in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of road traffic accidents due to sleepiness was increased by more than sevenfold (odds ratio = 7.33) in low alertness hours (0:00-6:00) compared to other time of day. The risk of road traffic accidents due to sleepiness was decreased by 0.15-fold (odds ratio = 0.15) in hours with maximum of alertness (18:00-22:00) of circadian rhythm compared to other time of day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of road traffic accidents due to sleepiness has significant statistical relations with driving during lowest point of alertness of circadian rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Sleep Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sadeghniiat-Haghighi
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradinia
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aminian
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaili
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D012890:Sleep