Truckers Drive Their Own Assessment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Collaborative Approach to Online Self-Assessment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Difference between revisions
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'''Conclusions'''. Some commercial drivers willingly assess their OSA risk anonymously online, and a majority of those who do so are obese, have positive Berlin screening questionnaires, and would be required to undergo polysomnography if recommendations made to the FMCSA regulation. In contrast to reported behavior during actual Commercial Driver Medical Examinations physicals, some commercial drivers will report OSA symptoms if it is “safe” to do so. Sleep health professionals need expedient, non-punitive methods to keep commercial motor vehicle drivers healthy and driving and to raise drivers’ awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and unhealthy lifestyles. | '''Conclusions'''. Some commercial drivers willingly assess their OSA risk anonymously online, and a majority of those who do so are obese, have positive Berlin screening questionnaires, and would be required to undergo polysomnography if recommendations made to the FMCSA regulation. In contrast to reported behavior during actual Commercial Driver Medical Examinations physicals, some commercial drivers will report OSA symptoms if it is “safe” to do so. Sleep health professionals need expedient, non-punitive methods to keep commercial motor vehicle drivers healthy and driving and to raise drivers’ awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and unhealthy lifestyles. | ||
==Background== | == 2. Background == | ||
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crash<sup>[1-3]</sup>, and effective treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces that risk<sup>[4]</sup>. Although evaluation of the risk for crash in commercial motor vehicle drivers with OSA has not been extensively evaluated<sup>[2]</sup>. it is likely that OSA increases the crash risk for those drivers as well. Commercial motor vehicle crashes carry an increased risk because of the size of the vehicles, the number of passengers, and the types of cargo that they may carry. Indeed, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles travelled was higher for large trucks than for all vehicles in 2005<sup>[5]</sup>. Further, commercial motor vehicle drivers appear to be at increased risk for OSA, with some estimates as high as one in four commercial drivers having OSA<sup>[6-8]</sup>. | Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crash<sup>[1-3]</sup>, and effective treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces that risk<sup>[4]</sup>. Although evaluation of the risk for crash in commercial motor vehicle drivers with OSA has not been extensively evaluated<sup>[2]</sup>. it is likely that OSA increases the crash risk for those drivers as well. Commercial motor vehicle crashes carry an increased risk because of the size of the vehicles, the number of passengers, and the types of cargo that they may carry. Indeed, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles travelled was higher for large trucks than for all vehicles in 2005<sup>[5]</sup>. Further, commercial motor vehicle drivers appear to be at increased risk for OSA, with some estimates as high as one in four commercial drivers having OSA<sup>[6-8]</sup>. | ||