@article{ref1,
title="Risk factors for automobile accidents caused by falling asleep while driving in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome",
journal="Sleep and Breathing",
year="2015",
author="Arita, Aki and Sasanabe, Ryujiro and Hasegawa, Rika and Nomura, Atsuhiko and Hori, Reiko and Mano, Mamiko and Konishi, Noriyuki and Shiomi, Toshiaki",
volume="19",
number="4",
pages="1229-1234",
abstract="PURPOSE: We examined the risk factors for automobile accidents caused by falling asleep while driving in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). <br><br>METHODS: We asked licensed drivers with history of snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness who had undergone polysomnography (PSG) at the Department of Sleep Medicine/Sleep Disorders Center at Aichi Medical University Hospital to complete the questionnaires on accidents caused by falling asleep while driving. As a subjective measure of sleepiness, we used the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Based on PSG results, 2387 subjects diagnosed with OSAS were divided into three groups according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): mild-to-moderate (5 ≤ AHI < 30), severe (30 ≤ AHI < 60), and very severe (AHI ≥ 60). We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression on variables that might explain falling asleep at the wheel. <br><br>RESULTS: We compared results between each group and simple snorers (394 subjects with AHI < 5) and found the group with very severe OSAS reported significantly higher rates of driving when drowsy and having accidents in the past 5 years due to falling asleep. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our multivariate analysis suggests that scores on the ESS and patient-reported frequency of feeling drowsy while regular driving and working are related to automobile accidents caused by falling asleep while driving.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1520-9512",
doi="10.1007/s11325-015-1145-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1145-7"
}