Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Among Bus Drivers in the Mariano Roque Alonso Area, September-November 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent sleep disorder, characterized by recurrent collapse of the upper respiratory tract during sleep. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of OSA among bus drivers, as well as to establish the possibility of work-related incidents involving these drivers, the symptoms they present, and the severity of OSA. The focus aims to highlight the association between OSA-a treatable condition and work accidents, which cause job losses, financial impacts, and, in extreme cases, loss of life. Materials and Method: To assess the prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) among bus drivers, 39 individuals from 3 bus companies in the Mariano Roque Alonso area (Line 16.2, Line 23 and 24, and Line 37-b) underwent the STOP-BANG questionnaire. During this process, demographic data, health status information, and the number of accidents involving these drivers were collected. Results: All drivers participating in the study were male. The age of the cases ranged from 35 to 58 years. In total, 30 drivers (76.92%) were identified as high-risk for OSA, and 09 drivers (23.07%) were identified as low-risk for OSA. Among these 30 high-risk drivers, 19 cases (63.33%) had no history of accidents, 06 (20%) were nearly involved in an accident, and 05 (16.6%) were actually involved in an accident. Conclusion: The possibility of accidents involving bus drivers is linked to the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is important to assess OSA symptoms in professional drivers during the certification process and subsequently on a periodic basis. Deeper OSA evaluations using polysomnography (PSG) should be performed on those presenting a certain level of risk, with the aim of mitigating potential impacts on work-related accidents.