Truckers with sleep apnea carry load of problems for transport industry
Sleep Apnea in truck drivers have become one of America’s top leading results in transportation accidents. Not only truck drivers but also aviation professionals that work in the commercial aviation industry.
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, approximately 22 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, approximately 80 percent of these cases often go undiagnosed or untreated. That said, approximately 2.4 – 3.9 million licensed commercial drivers in the U.S. are estimated to have OSA. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has renewed its focus on helping to reduce fatigue in operators of various modes of transportation, with particular interest in commercial truck drivers.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a condition in which individuals repeatedly stop breathing during sleep due to an obstructed airway. This obstruction is typically caused by the muscles of the throat relaxing, preventing oxygen from traveling throughout the body. The current standard of treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
CPAP therapy involves a bedside machine that delivers pressurized air through a tube and mask interface to an individual’s airway to help keep it open throughout the night. CPAP Machines require a prescription from a doctor.
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Why Commercial Trucking?
More accidents on America’s roads are attributed to sleepiness than any other cause, including alcohol abuse. Because truckers spend the most time on our nation’s roads, the incidence of accidents related to sleepiness are becoming more prevalent. In addition to being unrecognized or unreported by drivers, OSA often remains undiagnosed by many primary care clinicians despite the fact that OSA increases the risks of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease.
A recent study, published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, found that over a 15-month period, 456 commercial drivers were examined from over 50 different employers. Seventy-eight (17%) met the screening criteria for suspect OSA. These drivers were older and more obese, and had a higher average blood pressure. Body mass index (BMI) was also cited as a justification for screening as the NTSB noted that studies on sleep apnea found the prevalence of sleep apnea was more than 50 percent in patients with an average body mass index of 40.0.
Truckers & CPAP Therapy
In 2013, a bill was introduced that would have required the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to carry out a formal rule-making process to create guidelines for commercial truck drivers about OSA. Although truckers are required to pass a medical evaluation every two years, there is no medical testing standard or requirement for sleep apnea. With many drivers having no health insurance and the majority of trucking companies being independently owned, costs of testing, sleep apnea machine parts, and compliance for truckers diagnosed with OSA poses serious problems for the industry.
Almost 30 percent of the drivers in the US are driving with undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea. This includes about one third of all commercial drivers! Drivers with OSA are 6 to 7 times more likely to be involved in auto accidents. This is likely because their reaction time is impaired – just as though they had a blood alcohol level of 06 (BAC)!
Requiring truckers to be tested for sleep apnea and remain compliant with CPAP therapy could greatly reduce the risks involved with driving while fatigued. Services such as Sleep Care Online could present a cost-effective solution for truck drivers or their employers to get tested for sleep apnea. Online retailers like Majestic DME can provide truckers with important sleep apnea supplies, such as travel CPAP Machines, sanitizers, and more – all without having to deal with insurance companies.