Obstructive sleep apnea risk for driving license applicants in India - A community based study

Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2018 Jan 1;31(1):25-36. doi: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01021. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for male permanent driving license (DL) applicants of Lucknow, India.

Material and methods: In this cross-sectional community based, study body mass index, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure of each subject were determined as an anthropometric parameter along with the history of habit of smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption. STOP-Bang (Snoring, Tired or sleepy, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, Body mass index, Age, Neck, Gender) Questionnaire - a scoring risk assessment tool - was applied for assessment of OSA risk (high OSA risk defined by score ≥ 3) for 542 male DL recipients at 2 Regional Transport Office (RTO) centers in Lucknow, India. The statistical software SPSS 17.0 was applied to the testing.

Results: In total 23% (N = 125) of participants were found with the risk of OSA. High blood pressure (≥ 140/90 mm Hg) was found for the maximum number of participants (40.5%) followed by neck circumference > 40 cm (17.1%), age (> 50 years old) (15.3%), snoring (12.3%) and tired/sleepy (10.5%). Mean values of age, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were observed significantly higher (p < 0.001) for participants with the OSA risk. In this population the risk of OSA risk (STOP-Bang score ≥ 3) was observed for 6.7% of young (< 35 years old), 34% of middle (35-45 years old) and 73% of elder age adults (> 45 years old).

Conclusions: In view of findings of this study a high number of male driving license applicants were observed with the risk of OSA. Therefore efforts should be made to develop a national screening guideline/protocol for the OSA risk assessment for driving license applicants in India. This may reduce the possibility of road traffic accidents due to the OSA-associated fatigue and drowsiness behind the wheels. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(1):25-36.

Keywords: STOP-Bang; drivers; high blood pressure; obstructive sleep apnea; road traffic accidents; sleepiness.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Automobile Driving*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fatigue
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • India
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck / anatomy & histology
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / diagnosis
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / epidemiology*
  • Snoring
  • Tobacco Use
  • Waist-Hip Ratio