Sleep-disordered breathing and continuous positive airway pressure compliance in a group of commercial bus drivers in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective and background: Sleep-disordered breathing may predispose drivers to road traffic accidents. However, CPAP acceptance and compliance among commercial bus drivers is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a sleep questionnaire survey at a bus depot followed by random selection of bus drivers for home sleep study with the mesam iv device. Bus drivers with a respiratory disturbance index (RDI)>or=5/h were invited to have hospital-based polysomnography for confirmation followed by nasal CPAP treatment.

Results: Out of 1477 bus drivers, 1016 (971 men) were interviewed with mean (SD) age of 45.3 (7.5) years, BMI 24.9 (3.6) kg/m2, neck circumference 38.9 (3.1) cm and Epworth sleepiness score 4.8 (4.0). Sleepiness at work was reported by 60.9%, snoring>or=3 nights per week 23.9%, witnessed apnoea 3.7% and having fallen asleep during driving by 24%. Among 211 who underwent home sleep study, 85 (40.3%), 55 (26.1%) and 37 (17.5%) had RDI>or=5, >or=10 and >or=15/h respectively. BMI, snoring intensity and neck circumference were the positive independent factors associated with the RDI. Of the 25 drivers who attended polysomnography, nine accepted CPAP prescription with improvement of Epworth sleepiness score, trail B and digit span after 3 months with CPAP usage of 4.5 (1.3) h/night.

Conclusion: The estimated minimum prevalence rates of sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome were 8.4% and 5.4% respectively among the bus drivers. Home CPAP acceptance was low among bus drivers with sleep apnoea but there was significant improvement of subjective sleepiness and cognitive function among those on CPAP treatment.