Prevalence of Sleep Apnea Syndrome Risk Factors Among Active Drivers and Their Association with Traffic Accidents: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Abstract
Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to investigate the prevalence of risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) within the active driving population and to assess the association between these risk factors and traffic accidents.
Methods: Conducted with ethical approval, the study took place between March 15, 2022, and May 15, 2022, at XXX Hospital Family Medicine Polyclinic. Participants, meeting inclusion criteria and providing voluntary informed consent, were selected from those seeking care. A structured questionnaire, including the Berlin Risk Scale and sociodemographic inquiries, as well as questions related to driving and licensure, was administered through face-to-face interviews.
Results: 250 participants, with a mean age of 37.86±13.42 years, were included in the study. Obesity was present in 17.6% of participants, and 51.2% had more than 10 years of driving experience. Ten participants experienced accidents due to falling asleep while driving, with two encountering this situation multiple times. According to the Berlin Risk questionnaire, 19.2% of participants were identified as at high risk for OSA. Significant associations were found between obesity and accidents related to falling asleep (p<0.001, p<0.001). Furthermore, increasing age and BMI were significantly correlated with a higher risk of OSA (p<0.001).
Conclusion: In conclusion, our study identified that 19.2% of licensed drivers were at risk for OSA based on the Berlin questionnaire. The results underscore the importance of addressing OSA risk factors, particularly obesity, age, and BMI, among active drivers to enhance road safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents associated with sleep apnea.