Data from: Sleep apnea, sleep debt and daytime sleepiness are independently associated with road accidents: a cross-sectional study on truck drivers

Background: Recent research has found evidence of an association between motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) or near miss accidents (NMAs), and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or its main medical cause, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). However, EDS can also be due to non-medical factors, such as sleep debt (SD), which is common among professional truck drivers. On the opposite side, rest breaks and naps are known to protect against accidents. Study objectives: To investigate the association of OSA, SD, EDS, rest breaks and naps, with the occurrence of MVAs and NMAs in a large sample of truck drivers. Methods: 949 male truck drivers took part in a cross-sectional medical examination and were asked to complete a questionnaire about sleep and waking habits, risk factors for OSA and EDS. Results: MVAs and NMAs were reported by 34.8% and 9.2% of participants, respectively. MVAs were significantly predicted by OSA (OR= 2.32 CI95%=1.68-3.20), SD (OR=1.45 CI95%=1.29-1.63), EDS (OR=1.73 CI95%=1.15-2.61) and prevented by naps (OR=0.59 CI95%=0.44-0.79) or rest breaks (OR=0.63 CI95%=0.45-0.89). NMAs were significantly predicted by OSA (OR= 2.39 CI95%=1.47- 3.87) and SD (OR=1.49 CI95%=1.27- 1.76) and prevented by naps (OR=0.52 CI95%=0.32- 0.85) or rest breaks (OR=0.49 CI95%=0.29- 0.82). Conclusions: When OSA, SD or EDS are present, the risk of MVAs or NMAs in truck drivers is severely increased. Taking a rest break or a nap appear to be protective against accidents.背景：近期研究已证实，机动车碰撞事故（motor vehicle accidents, MVAs）或险些碰撞事故（near miss accidents, NMAs）与日间过度嗜睡（excessive daytime sleepiness, EDS）及其主要医学病因阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（Obstructive Sleep Apnea, OSA）之间存在关联。不过，日间过度嗜睡也可由非医学因素导致，例如职业卡车驾驶员群体中较为常见的睡眠不足（sleep debt, SD）。与之相对，休息间隙与小憩已被证实可降低事故发生风险。 研究目的：本研究旨在针对大样本卡车驾驶员群体，探讨阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停、睡眠不足、日间过度嗜睡、休息间隙与小憩，与机动车碰撞事故及险些碰撞事故发生情况的关联。 研究方法：共有949名男性卡车驾驶员参与了一项横断面医学检查，并被要求填写一份关于睡眠与觉醒习惯、阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停及日间过度嗜睡危险因素的调查问卷。 研究结果：34.8%的受访者报告曾发生机动车碰撞事故，9.2%的受访者报告曾发生险些碰撞事故。分析显示，阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（优势比OR=2.32，95%置信区间CI=1.68~3.20）、睡眠不足（OR=1.45，95%CI=1.29~1.63）、日间过度嗜睡（OR=1.73，95%CI=1.15~2.61）会显著增加机动车碰撞事故的发生风险，而小憩（OR=0.59，95%CI=0.44~0.79）或休息间隙（OR=0.63，95%CI=0.45~0.89）则可降低该风险。针对险些碰撞事故，阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OR=2.39，95%CI=1.47~3.87）与睡眠不足（OR=1.49，95%CI=1.27~1.76）会显著提升其发生风险，而小憩（OR=0.52，95%CI=0.32~0.85）或休息间隙（OR=0.49，95%CI=0.29~0.82）可发挥保护作用。 研究结论：当卡车驾驶员存在阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停、睡眠不足或日间过度嗜睡时，其发生机动车碰撞事故或险些碰撞事故的风险会显著升高；而进行休息间隙或小憩则可有效降低事故发生风险。