Abstract
Introduction: Untreated sleep disorders can increase driver crash risk by up to 7 fold, and truck drivers have a variety of risk factors for sleep disorders. Measures currently used to identify drivers at risk depend predominantly on the ability of the driver to identify and report themselves as sleepy. Methods: This case report presents a 54 year old long distance truck driver who participated in a case-control study, underwent at home breathing monitoring and was followed up with an in-depth interview. Results: Self-reported measures did not identify this driver as at risk of sleepiness or sleep apnea; yet he was subsequently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea using an at home monitor and polysomnography. Conclusions: Self-assessment of risk factors is insufficient as a screen for sleep apnea. General practitioners are in an ideal position to identify potential sleep apnea sufferers and can initiate the enquiry process that leads to diagnostic testing.
Highlights
Untreated sleep disorders can increase driver crash risk by up to 7 fold, and truck drivers have a variety of risk factors for sleep disorders
The frequency with which this medical assessment must be completed for ongoing truck licensure varies significantly between states, lacking consistency in regular evaluation of risk. We present this case report as clinical example of a 54 year old truck driver with several risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), who, despite a 35 year career as a long distance truck driver had never presented himself for assessment nor been identified with a sleep disorder
The results presented above obtained in the initial interview, highlight some indicators of risk for OSA in this man; namely his BMI, age and gender, and symptoms of respiratory disturbance such as regular snoring and choking or gasping for breath during sleep
Summary
Untreated sleep disorders can increase driver crash risk by up to 7 fold, and truck drivers have a variety of risk factors for sleep disorders. General practitioners are in an ideal position to identify potential sleep apnea sufferers and can initiate the enquiry process that leads to diagnostic testing Untreated sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can increase the crash risk of a car driver by up to 7 fold [1]. National regulatory amendments have focused on the provision of adequate sleep and rest time for the long distance truck driver, while current licensing assessment standards attempt to identify drivers at risk of daytime sleepiness [2]. These tools predominantly depend on the ability of the driver to identify themselves as sleepy, and report this accurately. Long distance truck drivers in Australia are predominantly male and overweight [5]; these factors, compounded by increasing age and the mostly sedentary nature of their work, put them at increased risk of OSA
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