Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device
Study Objectives: As obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a higher risk of motor vehicle crashes, there is increasing regulatory interest in the identification of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers with this condition. This study aimed to determine the relationship between subjective...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Allied Healthcare Group
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37448 |
| _version_ | 1848755050344611840 |
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| author | Sharwood, L. Elkington, J. Stevenson, M. Grunstein, R. Meuleners, Helen Ivers, R. Haworth, N. Norton, R. Wong, K. |
| author_facet | Sharwood, L. Elkington, J. Stevenson, M. Grunstein, R. Meuleners, Helen Ivers, R. Haworth, N. Norton, R. Wong, K. |
| author_sort | Sharwood, L. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Study Objectives: As obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a higher risk of motor vehicle crashes, there is increasing regulatory interest in the identification of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers with this condition. This study aimed to determine the relationship between subjective versus objective assessment of OSA in CMV drivers. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Settings: Heavy vehicle truck stops located across the road network of 2 large Australian states. Participants: A random sample of long distance commercial vehicle drivers (n = 517). Interventions: None. Measurements and Results: Drivers were interviewed regarding their driving experience, personal health, shift schedules, payments, and various questions on sleep and tiredness in order to describe their sleep health across a range of variables. In addition, home recordings using a flow monitor were used during one night of sleep. Only 4.4% of drivers reported a previous diagnosis of sleep apnea, while our at home diagnostic test found a further 41% of long-distance heavy vehicle drivers likely to have sleep apnea. The multivariable apnea prediction index, based on self-report measures, showed poor agreement with the home-monitor detected sleep apnea (AUC 0.58, 95%CI = 0.49-0.62), and only 12% of drivers reported daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score > 10). Thirty-six percent of drivers were overweight and a further 50% obese; 49% of drivers were cigarette smokers. Conclusions: Sleep apnea remains a significant and unrecognized problem in CMV drivers, who we found to have multiple health risks. Objective testing for this sleep disorder needs to be considered, as symptom reports and self-identification appear insufficient to accurately identify those at risk. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:50:08Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-37448 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:50:08Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Allied Healthcare Group |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-374482017-09-13T15:56:51Z Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device Sharwood, L. Elkington, J. Stevenson, M. Grunstein, R. Meuleners, Helen Ivers, R. Haworth, N. Norton, R. Wong, K. Study Objectives: As obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a higher risk of motor vehicle crashes, there is increasing regulatory interest in the identification of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers with this condition. This study aimed to determine the relationship between subjective versus objective assessment of OSA in CMV drivers. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Settings: Heavy vehicle truck stops located across the road network of 2 large Australian states. Participants: A random sample of long distance commercial vehicle drivers (n = 517). Interventions: None. Measurements and Results: Drivers were interviewed regarding their driving experience, personal health, shift schedules, payments, and various questions on sleep and tiredness in order to describe their sleep health across a range of variables. In addition, home recordings using a flow monitor were used during one night of sleep. Only 4.4% of drivers reported a previous diagnosis of sleep apnea, while our at home diagnostic test found a further 41% of long-distance heavy vehicle drivers likely to have sleep apnea. The multivariable apnea prediction index, based on self-report measures, showed poor agreement with the home-monitor detected sleep apnea (AUC 0.58, 95%CI = 0.49-0.62), and only 12% of drivers reported daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score > 10). Thirty-six percent of drivers were overweight and a further 50% obese; 49% of drivers were cigarette smokers. Conclusions: Sleep apnea remains a significant and unrecognized problem in CMV drivers, who we found to have multiple health risks. Objective testing for this sleep disorder needs to be considered, as symptom reports and self-identification appear insufficient to accurately identify those at risk. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37448 10.5665/sleep.1726 Allied Healthcare Group unknown |
| spellingShingle | Sharwood, L. Elkington, J. Stevenson, M. Grunstein, R. Meuleners, Helen Ivers, R. Haworth, N. Norton, R. Wong, K. Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device |
| title | Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device |
| title_full | Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device |
| title_short | Assessing Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Australian Long-Distance Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Self-Report Versus an "At Home" Monitoring Device |
| title_sort | assessing sleepiness and sleep disorders in australian long-distance commercial vehicle drivers: self-report versus an "at home" monitoring device |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37448 |