Citation

Vaz Fragoso CA, Araujo KL, Van Ness PH, Marottoli RA. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2010; 58(10): 1878-1884.

Affiliation

Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. carlos.fragoso@yale.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03083.x

PMID

20929465

PMCID

PMC2954505

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between sleep disturbances and adverse driving events in active older drivers. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Clinic and community sites in greater New Haven, Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred thirty older persons (mean age 78.5, 84.9% male) who drove at least once a week. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline measures included self-reported driving patterns and sleep questionnaires (Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Sleep Apnea Clinical Score (SACS)). The primary outcome was an adverse driving event based on self-report and driving records and categorized as a crash or traffic infraction (composite I) or as a crash, traffic infraction, near crash, or getting lost (composite II). RESULTS: Participants reported driving a median of 17.0 miles per day, with 96.7% (416/430) driving daily or every other day. Although 26.0% (112/430) had insomnia (ISI≥8), 19.3% (83/430) had daytime drowsiness (ESS≥10), and 19.9% (84/422) had high sleep apnea risk (SACS>15), the median scores for the ISI, ESS, and SACS were normal at 3.0, 6.0, and 8.0, respectively, and only 5.1% reported drowsy driving. Over a period of up to 2 years, 24.9% (104/418) and 51.4% (215/418) of participants had a composite I and II driving event, respectively. In unadjusted and adjusted multivariable models, insomnia, daytime drowsiness, and high sleep apnea risk were not associated with a composite I or II driving event. CONCLUSION: In a predominantly male cohort of active older drivers, sleep disturbances were mild and not associated with adverse driving events. Accordingly, and because older persons are known to self-regulate driving practices, future studies should evaluate whether sleep disturbances are more important as a mechanism that underlies driving cessation rather than compromising driving safety.

Language: en