Study finds frequent sleep disorders among truckers

By Jill Dunn, eTrucker.com, November 2004

Research on Australian truckers indicates a high incidence of sleep-disordered breathing and excessive sleepiness.

Of the 2,342 drivers in the study, about 60 percent had sleep-disordered breathing, and 16 percent had obstructive sleep apnea. Among the general population, 24 percent have sleep-disordered breathing, and 4 percent have sleep apnea.

The researchers defined sleep-disordered breathing as five short pauses or apneas in breathing per hour while asleep. Obstructive sleep apnea was defined as five breathing pauses or more per hour, plus a high score on a sleepiness test.

The authors stated 20 to 30 percent of all accidents involving truckers are sleep-related. Nearly 36 percent of the study participants had had at least one accident in the previous three years.

The study was published in the November issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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